The Seforno says that you won’t need palaces of gold, silver, and precious stones in order to get close to Hashem. It’s enough: מִזְּבַח אֲדָמָה a Mizbeach of plain earth, and the...
The Ibn Ezra quotes an opinion that says it should be on the: אדמה ground and not on a high place. This is strikingly similar to Har Sinai that was Davka a low and humble mountain. Also, in both cases there was an Inyan to avoid Arayos; by Har Sinai it says: הֱיוּ נְּכֹנִים לִשְּלשֶת יָמִים אַל תִּגְּשוּ אֶל אִשָה separate from wives for three days, and by the Mizbeach it says: וְּלֹא תַעֲלֶה בְּמַעֲלֹת עַל מִזְּבְּחִי אֲשֶר לֹא תִגָלֶה עֶרְּ וָתְּךָ עָלָי Don’t expose yourself while walking up to it. And both places had no shoes allowed (שַל נְּעָלֶיךָ מֵעַל רַגְּלֶיךָ).
The Mizbeach had four: קְּרָנוֹת horns, and at Har Sinai it says: בִמְּשֹךְ (בְּקֶרֶן) הַיוֹבֵל “when you hear the long blast of the horn”, and a Shofar was blown (וְּקוֹל שוֹפָר חָזָק מְּאֹד is mentioned twice). Also, both Har Sinai and the: כֶבֶש ramp of the Mizbeach are strikingly similar in that the idea is going “upwards” and Shteiging. The Mizbeach also needed fire, as it says: אֵש תָּמִיד תּוּקַד עַל הַמִזְּבֵחַ לֹא תִכְּבֶה (being “on fire” in Avodas Hashem is always an Inyan) besides what’s needed to burn the Korbanos. (Rambam).
Also, it says: וְּהַר סִינַי עָשַן כֻלּוֹ Har Sinai was full of smoke, and the Mizbeach had smoke coming up in straight columns, similar to the: עַמוּד הֶעָנָן cloud in the Midbar. Also, by the Mizbeach a fire came down from Shamayim, just like Har Sinai. Both had fire and smoke. RSRH says that the: כֶבֶש ramp and קְּרָנוֹת horns of the Mizbeach symbolize aspiring and elevating Gashmiyus towards Shamayim. And surely the Yesod of a mountain is climbing upwards and aiming to Shamayim (Tzadikim are compared to mountains. Medrash). And the Torah mentions the making of the Mizbeach right after Har Sinai. It sounds like the Mizbeach is some sort of miniature Har Sinai. It is interesting that there was a special Mitzva that animals shouldn’t go up and graze on Har Sinai just like people.
And yet, here the Mizbeach is just the opposite of Har Sinai; i.e., by the Mizbeach, an Adam actually does go “up” to the top of the Mizbeach, and is Makriv animals (this is the whole point of the Mizbeach).
From here we learn that there is a time in your life that you just stay put and stand, and aspire for greatness without doing anything (like at Har Sinai). In fact, it could be the worst sin doing an Avoda that’s not meant for you. And yet, there is a time to go “up” and accomplish (like being Makriv on the Mizbeach).
A Big Part of a Person Is Just His Desiring and Aspiring for More Torah & Middos
There is a Mitzva to remember: יוֹם אֲשֶר עָמַדְּתָּ לִפְּנֵי ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ בְּחֹרֵב the day we stood at Har Sinai. The Bircas Shmuel says that it’s a big Zechus just for having: שְּאִיפוֹת ambition to become a Gadol B'yisroel. A person should always remember that a big part of him is just desiring and aspiring for more Torah and truth and pure Middos.
We see how important is Sameach B'chelko in Ruchaniyus, and we should expect a lifetime of desires that will never happen. אֵין אָדָם מֵת וַחֲצִי תַּאֲוָתוֹ בְּיָדוֹ A person does not get even half of his desires during his lifetime, and: לֹא עָלֶיךָ הַמְּלָאכָה לִגְּמוֹר You are not responsible to get it all done! We are happy with our incomplete situation.
This is Le'chatchila, and is similar to Har Sinai, the greatest moment in Klal Yisroel’s history.
You think that your ideal is when you finish the Masechta, or when you finally get your long awaited Nachas and good relationship, etc. However, it may very well be that your present state of frustration, inability, and difficulty is the ideal of your life! And Har Sinai is the greatest proof!
So be a Sameach B'chelko no matter what the situation! Believe it or not, your limbo state could be the most ideal part of your life. רַחְּמָנָא לִיבָא בָעֵי Hashem wants our desire. And you may be getting much more Schar than if you had achieved all your wishes (albeit in Ruchaniyus!)
Always work on being happy with the moment, without thinking of glorious tomorrow.
