“Horses are a false hope for deliverance.” (33:17)

In old Westerns, the hero swoops in and rescues the damsel in distress, throws her across a horse, and rides off into the sunset. The horse is his tool of salvation. The Psalmist’s horse is a symbol of wealth, power, and mobility. We would speak of a luxury automobile or the latest mobile phone, with which we can handily impress clients and defeat competitors. Wealth and influence can be of tremendous benefit, but at the end of our life we ought to rather be remembered for our kindness and for the good things that we’ve done, and not just for the possessions we leave behind.

“I am like a lost object.” (31:13)

I find myself challenged when I need to attend social functions without knowing many people. An introvert by nature, I want to find a corner and fade into it. However, I don’t let my instinct define and limit me. Instead, I find someone to talk to. Maybe it will lead to conversations with a second and a third person, maybe not. If I leave the event having had a good conversation with at least one person, I consider that a success. The key, when feeling lost, is to find strength in your emotional and spiritual center and not give in to weakness.

“You have lifted me up” (30:1)

We all need a hand now and then. I love the moment in a football game right after the defensive player has flattened the running back, when he offers him a hand up. I feel the same when a tennis player overrules the umpire and awards a point to her opponent, or when a runner stops running to help up another who has fallen. In business, competitors sometime refer customers to each other when they know the other company can fulfill a particular need better than they can. Competition is good when we play fairly by the rules and when it challenges each of us to become better.

“Lead me on a level path.” (27:11)

The middah, or character trait, of hishtavut, equanimity, suggest that one ought to live one’s life on an even keel. Bad things will happen, but most of them are not worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy. Yes, it is inconvenient when your car won’t start, gets a flat tire, or breaks down. Yes, it is upsetting when someone is rude to you at work, at the gym, or at the supermarket. But you have a choice. You can carry around your anger and let it affect your future interactions, or you can shrug off the anger, keep on the level path, and leave the upset behind, allowing you to continue to embrace the world cheerfully.