The year is ending -- less than two weeks away from Rosh Hashanah and the bright lights of judgment are just around the corner. Are we prepared? Look inside -- are we who we want to be? We can always be better. Better parents, children...better people.
But are we satisfied with the type of person we have become? Are we the person we dreamt we would be, years back? Look at our daily routine, our surroundings...the ebb and flow of our existence... Want to make changes? Now is the time to plan, think and rearrange priorities... One piece of advice, do not make big resolutions. Small people make big resolutions, great people make smaller promises that can be kept... Make our life great again with solid but attainable goals.
With G -- ds help this year it will stick... But last year, did we veer off the path? a little, alot? We have not been our best possible self every moment -- but we have the gift of T'shuvah for just this reason. Were we quick to judge? condemn? less than pleasant to those around us? Mitzvos go on the scale... Then shortcomings, our aveiros... Whoops -- there goes the scale! Fortunate is the person whose good deeds far outweigh his misguided actions. How can we tilt those scales?
A young man apprenticed himself to a silversmith with a large family and many obligations who promised him a modest wage each week. But time after time he was unable to pay his apprentice. His own bills were overwhelming. There was simply nothing left in the till. What to do?
“If I demand my payment, weekly, I know the silversmith won’t be able to pay. Let the weeks add up -- he will surely not pay and I will end up with nothing!”
In the back of the store underneath some piled up papers and assorted clutter was a large tin can. Into this can the apprentice put silver and gold shavings every day. They were so small, hardly worth much and not missed. After two years he approached his employer. “It’s been some time since I received remuneration... I know that I’ve learnt a lot here, but we agreed to a small salary...”
“How much do I owe ?” asked the forlorn silversmith. They made the calculations...
“I simply do not have that amount of money!”
The apprentice went to the back room and returned holding a can laden with gold and silver pieces... It was now very heavy. They weighed the can -- it was a little more than the young man was owed. The silversmith was overjoyed and blessed the young man profusely for his foresight and planning!
And so it is with our lives -- we panic when our virtues are outnumbered by our failings. Watch as the scale tilts ominously in the wrong direction -- but wait... The defending angels are wheeling in cartloads of suffering, anguish and pain -- combined with our zechusim they tilt the scale!
