MUSCLE BUILDING
We know that everything that happens to us comes from HaShem. When everything in life runs smoothly we ‘understand’ why everything is smooth. However, when life becomes complicated we struggle to understand why HaShem changed His plan. How are we to make sense out of circumstances when they go totally out of control. This question sits on my mind as we all find ourselves in the middle of Covid and life has spun out of control. Although we have no Navi to direct us to the answer, nevertheless, there are clues to which we must pay attention.
Let us leave Covid for a moment and enter the life of a young couple that just had their third child. Sibling rivalry begins to lift its head and the parents struggle to keep the home peaceful. Nobody is at fault for this challenge; that is how children are programmed. As the parents work their way through this challenge, they discover that when they practice patience the situation becomes more manageable. For the next several years they begin exercising their patience muscles. By the time they have eight children they have become masters of patience and their home is beautifully peaceful. Sibling rivalry still occurs but it does not disrupt the home.
If we are asked why did the Hashgacha create the challenge of sibling rivalry in their home, we understand that it was to give them opportunities to exercise their patience and become masters of patience. Perhaps there were other reasons as well, but certainly this was one of them.
As we travel through our current situation, so many of us are experiencing challenging circumstances. Many people spent Pesach alone half a year ago and were looking forward to joining their families for Succos. Now, with Baltimore’s current outbreak many people will be locked out once again! Very few situations can cause more frustration. There are two reactions to this situation. The natural reaction is frustration. This could be expressed in anger, sadness, bitterness and other unfortunate expressions. However, there is an alternate reaction which is certainly not natural, but it can be accomplished with much thought. This reaction is exercising the ‘emunah’ muscle. We know that all the circumstances that created this frustration are an act of G.D. The actual virus, the government response as well as all the subsequent components were all orchestrated by Him. We know that every per-son has their personal hashgacha. This means that the current situation has been designed by Him just for me with much meticulous design. Consider if Succos would have been a month ago; there would be no problem. If it occurs now that it is because He wants me to deal with this struggle. Once I make peace with this understanding, I will experience a calming effect. I will still have to deal with not being with my family but at least I am at peace, there is no frustration.
As I discover that the alternate approach is what brings me to inner peace I will exercise that emunah muscle more often. As these situations increase, I will need to continue exercising that muscle to bring myself to inner peace and before long my emunah will be very strong.
Just as the challenge of sibling rivalry served the purpose of developing the parents’ patience, perhaps Covid serves the purpose of developing our emunah. As our emunah strengthens our inner peace increases. As our inner peace increases we become more open to experiencing joy.
Perhaps HaShem has brought Covid to Baltimore specifically at this point of the year so that as we leave the security of our homes and enter the Succah, we will be able to experience the joy that comes with it.
Have a very safe and very joyous Yom Tov
Paysach Diskind