A year after Yetzias Mitzrayim, Klal Yisrael was about to celebrate Pesach in the Midbar and offer the Korban Pesach. A number of men were tamei and appealed to Moshe Rabbeinu for a solution, saying: “Why should we be excluded from being able to offer Hashem’s korban at the right time, together with all of Bnei Yisrael?” Moshe Rabbeinu was then told by Hashem that for these people, an additional opportunity would be provided, a month later, on what became Pesach Sheini.
The previous Lubavitcher Rebbe ztz”l, the Rebbe Rayatz, comments on these pesukim that they teach us a valuable lesson, that “things are never irretrievably lost.” True, the initial opportunity was missed and can never be regained, but a new opportunity always opens up instead, if we really want it.
This is a lesson that applies in all areas of life, including our interpersonal relationships. Even if we made a mistake — even a serious one — there’s always a way to fix things and we should never despair and give up. Certainly there’s no way to turn back the clock, but it’s a waste of time and energy to worry or be angry about the past. The focus should be on asking Hashem for opportunities in the future to fix things, and moving forward, always forward.
