You've probably heard about the Jewish holidays' shared theme: "They tried to kill us; we won; let's eat!"
Sure, the joke is inaccurate and shallow. But it brings out a valid point. There's something about crisis that awakens (many) people to higher values, to priorities, to G-d. So, throughout our history, a communal crisis often brought a spiritual awakening; and our joy in triumph was expressed in a holy-day, a day of gratitude to G-d.
On Chanukah, Purim and Passover we were threatened by various peoples, and Sukkot celebrates G-d's protection in the desert's untamed wilderness. Yes, crises seem to be at the center of our holiday experiences. What about a day when things seem to be going right? Even in our personal lives, we may notice how emergencies give us a jarring wake-up call, prompting us to ask G-d for assistance and to reevaluate our priorities. And when there's an appreciable victory, we feel the gratitude. But what about the other days?
What about a day when things seem to be going right? What about the day when I landed the promotion, my relationships are fluid, my bills are paid? What if it's just a normal day? What of a day with assorted stresses and pressures, but – thank G-d – no monumental crises?
What drives me to G-d then? Do I appreciate G-d then, amidst the success and the "normal"? Hence Sukkot.
Yes, Sukkot celebrates G-d's protection in a time of extreme vulnerability, in the desert. But there's something more.
Our calendar has a spine of festivals – Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot – which are also framed in agricultural terms: Passover is the beginning of spring and the beginning of the barley harvest, Shavuot is the general Harvest Festival and Sukkot is the "Gathering [of the harvest from the fields]."
The Jews were protected in the desert as soon as they left Egypt, in the spring time. Yet the Torah postpones the celebration until the fall.
Perhaps this is a reason:
The Torah guides us to appreciate G-d's consistent presence at the time for the communal gathering of the crops, Sukkot was, practically speaking, one's opportunity to soak in the rewards of a year's work. It was when you got your "bonus check"; a time when you were feeling good about yourself.
So at that time – specifically that time – the Torah guides us to appreciate G-d's consistent presence and protection. Not amidst crisis, but amidst plenty. When there may be less of an instinctive push. May this be a year of Sukkot, when we rise to the challenge of appreciating G-d amidst the gifts which are certainly headed our way.
