NOV. 12, ‘25 // the second brother. “A treasure that can only be gotten through toil, struggle, and privation…” I don’t like hardship. I want the good life. I love comfort, plenty, ease and luxuries. I shy away from challenges. Why step out of my familiar zone, my warm fuzzy slippers, and my smooth painless routine? Dreaming to aim is simpler than aiming for the dream. That was the lesson of the farmer. Growth needs hard, steady work. Deep in the wilds of California, a tiny flame starts to flicker. Small shrubs, dry from the summer heat catch fire. Silently and quickly the fire spreads, burning grass, dead branches, and overgrown vegetation. It creates cleared, nutrient rich soil, so important for the renewal of the forest. The Giant Sequoia tree has been growing in the California forests for thousands of years. Its cones, containing the seeds essential for its reproduction, are hard and woody, and remain closed for years on end. The heat from a wildfire causes the cones of the Giant Sequoia to dry out, open, and release the seeds. They fall onto the forest floor, where the fire has removed the undergrowth. The ash that is left enriches the soil so that the seeds can thrive and germinate ensuring a new generation of Giant Sequoia. Fire – with its challenges and hardships, is essential for the growth and survival of the Giant Sequoia, helping them flourish for thousands of years. Challenges can be grueling; Difficulties can be tough. Yet, they build us, strengthen us, and like the Giant Sequoia, help us release our inner potential. Suppose a gypsy would look into his crystal ball, and foretell a life of pain, sorrow and agony for your only son. I can’t imagine the fear and horror you would feel; I can imagine your powerful urge to grab that ball and smash it to the ground. Our forefather, Avraham Avinu, was told by Hashem; “Your children 122
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTY1MDA0