I'm Back!

On Oct. 6, 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from basketball. It was a few months after he suffered the devastating loss of his father, James, who was shot in a meaningless murder. Michael and his father were very close, James Jordan was his son's biggest fan, even rooting for him when he was just a youngster playing baseball.

At the time of his retirement, MJ, was with the Chicago Bulls for 9 years, winning 3 consecutive NBA Championships, and a Gold Medal for the 1992 USA Olympic Dream Team.  In MJ's own words " I am done, I have no more challenges or motivation."  On Feb.7, 1994, MJ announced that he was switching to baseball, playing for the Birmingham Barons, a minor league team affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. Michael describes how baseball allowed him to be isolated and away from all the bright lights that constantly followed him. In baseball, especially in the minor leagues, there is a lot of downtimes, they don’t even fly to their games, and the bus rides can take hours. MJ used this as an opportunity to adjust to his new reality, a life without his best friend and father. In fact, his manager commented that baseball was a "Spiritual Retreat" for him, it "turned down the volume" in his life, and " he came back to basketball a different player."  In March 1995,

Michael Jordan announced to the sports world " I'M BACK” and led the Chicago Bulls to another 3 consecutive NBA Championships. 

        How can each of us apply this concept of " Spiritual Retreat" to our own lives? We all face the battle of the Yetzer Harah, Evil Inclination, each day of our life. We all have weak points and moments, and he knows just where and when to attack us. It can be overwhelming, extremely challenging, and honestly depressing, like the unprecedented times that we are facing today. One of the biggest strategies of the Yatzar Harah is to not allow us the time to reflect on who we are, and what is the purpose of life. Pharaoh, King of Egypt, used the same game plan on his Jewish slaves, he decreed to " intensify the men's labor." Pharaoh did not want us to have any free time in order to gather together and plot against him. In addition, he made the slave labor extremely difficult, so that we could not possibly have the mental energy to even think of our own spiritual needs.

       James Jordan's lifetime advice to his son Michael was "take a negative and turn it into a positive."  We have a unique opportunity today to turn down the volume in our lives, ignore all the outside noise that gives us no rest. We can take a break like MJ did, to use this time for our own "Spiritual Retreat," and focus on what life is about. How can I improve my Bein Adam L'Chaveiro, (interpersonal relationships)? I must, encourage, support, and compliment my family and friends, even more, this will give our lives more meaning and happiness. 

  Then we can wake up every morning with a new purpose and announce “I'M BACK.

Written by my friend Joe Shapiro

Edited by Yitzchak Friedman