Have you ever tried to accomplish a task, but failed? When that happens, many of us may feel disappointment. But did we really fail? Perhaps our trying is what really counts. On the other hand, if it is the effort that counts, can we sit on our laurels and congratulate ourselves for having tried, even though we have failed? How do we deal with this kind of disappointment?
This week’s Torah portion, Noach, teaches us an important lesson about how to deal with such a predicament.
The Torah tells us that, “Noach was a righteous man, a complete man, in his generation.” The words “in his generation” seem superfluous. What do these words add?
There are two opinions: Either it is a compliment, telling us that Noach was a righteous man even in such a corrupt generation, or it’s an insult, meaning that in this generation he was good, but if he would have lived in less corrupt times, he would just be an average fellow.
However, these questions beg to be asked: Why the need to insult Noach? Why not just limit the compliments? Why the need to call out the weakness of Noah?
And so we should look at both opinions, not viewing them as oppositional, but rather as supportive in the process of understanding. Noach was a righteous man, a complete man. He did the best that he could under the circumstances, and for this he deserves our compliments and praises. However, did he succeed at his mission? No. He did not succeed in getting his generation to turn around and repent. Maybe he felt that they would not listen, or perhaps he did not have the persuasive power to influence them, and for this we cannot fault him. But at the same time, we have to recognize that he didn’t succeed at his mission. This is not an insult, as much as a realization.
The lesson for us is clear: We have to try our best to succeed at the tasks that we set out to accomplish. However, when we don’t see the fruits of our effort, we should not beat ourselves up—after all, we tried hard. It’s the effort that counts. Conversely, even though we tried and did not succeed – and for this we should not reprimand ourselves – it doesn’t mean that we should give up trying harder next time.
Let us take our failures and from them, learn how to do even better next time around.