When A Person Gives Up, He Is Like Dead and Lifeless & Can No Longer Produce

וְהָיָה הָאִ יש אֲשֶר אֶבְחַר בֹו מַטֵהּו יִפְרָח (17:20) A מַטֶה staff is a stick which was once a live tree, or branch that had already died; now it became a useful stick to help a person walking, etc. However, it can no longer produce flowers or fruits or leaves, and it can’t grow; it’s already dead and is lifeless. There are people who go through lots of Tzaros, and they have plenty of Yi'ush until they give up and become as good as dead, with no energy left to fight for their issues in life. They are resigned to their fate, and retract into a passive mode. Actually, this is the average person. People “retire” at a young age. Their youthful vigor and aspirations and hope and dreams are long gone, and are never to be realized.