A person should be so busy with good deeds that he has no time for sin. A person who is busy learning Torah, davening, performing acts of kindness and the like doesn’t have time to sin.
Concerning the many cases of mental illnesses today that require psychiatric help, an elderly man once commented that when he was younger “We were too busy making a living to be crazy!”
There was a 17-year-old who worked aboard a ship at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On the infamous day of December 7, 1941, following the Japanese attack, this boy rescued numerous people throughout the night. The next day he grappled with intense trauma, reliving the harrowing events. Seeking guidance, he confided in a mentor who questioned, “If you are struggling now, how did you manage to save so many lives on December 7th?” The boy explained that he was so busy aiding others that he didn’t have time to think. His mentor then suggested, “Why don’t you continue to help people?” The boy then enrolled in a Paramedics course and dedicated his time to rescue efforts. This is what kept him going.
Rabbi Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander ztz”l for close to five years. He received semicha from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg ztz”l. Rabbi Alt has written on numerous topics for various websites and publications and is the author of six books including the recently released Dazzling Money Insights. His writings, some of which have been translated into Yiddish, Hebrew, German and French, inspire people across the spectrum of Jewish observance to live with the vibrancy and beauty of Torah. He lives with his wife and family in Kiryat Yearim (where the Aron was for 20 years [Shmuel 1, 7:1,2]) where he studies, writes and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.
The Kotzker Rebbe told his Chassidim that their sins didn’t bother him as much as that they had time to sin. He would say, “I don’t expect my Chassidim to have the fortitude not to sin. I expect them not to have time to sin.”
There is a saying, “Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain but all the happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it.”
There is an expression, “Idle hands are the devil’s playground.”
Of course seeking professional help for trauma is essential. This story just emphasizes the importance of engaging in meaningful activities.
