If baseball games were eight innings, Ramon Ortiz would have had the game of his life!! Pitching for the Nationals on a beautiful fall day, Ortiz threw a no-hitter through the first eight innings. Had he faced down three more batters, he would have pitched the first no-hitter since Randy Johnson did so to win one for the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 18, 2004. With two outs in the eighth inning, Ortiz walked to the plate to take his swings, and hit a home run--his first.

As he trotted back to the dugout after rounding the bases slowly, relishing every moment, I thought, the next few words out of his mouth would have to be, "Hi, Mom."

Ortiz was having a great day. And then, the first player to come up to bat in the ninth inning hit a line drive to center field. Another player, a slugger, hit a home run before Ortiz was yanked from the game and another pitcher was tasked with getting the last man out. (Ironically, Florida Marlins rookie Anabel Sanchez, would pitch a no-hitter two days later.)

I've thought about that game a lot since I sat in the stands chomping on my heavily salted hot pretzel and watching the action.

It reminds me of one of my favorite stories, a Midrash about King Solomon:

King Solomon had many servants and advisers. The greatest and most trusted among these was Benayah ben Yehoyada. Benayah had served Solomon for years and knew that there was nothing the king would ever need or want that he could not provide.

One day, as Passover neared, Solomon challenged Benayah. He said to him, "Over the years you have advised me well. You've brought me everything that I've ever requested of you. I would like you to bring me a present to celebrate Sukkot."

Benayah answered as he always did, "Whatever your wish, your majesty, I shall fulfill it."

"I would like a gift," King Solomon continued, "which will make a man happy if he is sad, and sad if he is happy."

Benayah couldn't picture such a gift, but this had never stopped him before. He traveled far and wide talking to merchants and craftsmen. Sometimes one would have something that would turn sadness into happiness, or happiness into sadness, but whatever the bauble or bangle, toy or treasure, it was never able to do both. Months passed and still Benayah was no closer to finding the gift the king requested.

The day before Sukkot, he wandered the streets of Jerusalem, finding himself in one of its poorest neighborhoods. He came to the shop of an old merchant who was just setting out his goods. He asked the merchant if he had heard of the kind of present for which he had been searching. The old man took a gold ring from his pocket and set to engraving something on the inside. When Benayah saw what the man had engraved, he broke into a wide grin. With just one day to spare, he had found the perfect gift for the king.

As Benayah entered Solomon's court to celebrate Sukkot, he asked Benayah if he was able to get the gift he had requested. Benayah produced the ring he had purchased the day before and the king smiled; he never imagined that Benayah would rise to the challenge. As soon as he read the inscription on the ring, his smile faded. The inscription read, Gam Zeh Ya'avor--this too shall pass.

This is truly the cycle of Jewish life. We move from a time of deep reflection on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, to a time of great joy on Simchat Torah. In just a few days Sukkot will arrive, showing us, yet again, the fragility of life. Reminding us--if it is not already deeply felt--that there are days when we feel sheltered and protected, and days when we feel exposed and vulnerable.

As we continue to move through the cycle of fall holidays together, I hope that you will remember the lesson of Benayah--gam zeh ya'avor--and find blessing in both of these things.