I recently went to a bridal shower for an acquaintance in my community. She was in her late 30's and had never moved away from home before. Everyone at the shower was so impressed that she had been able to take such a huge leap. About a year after making this move she had found her soul mate and was about to get married. I sat there somewhat bewildered. I did a quick tally in my head and figured out that I had moved 18 times on my own since the age of 18. Was I missing something here? Why was she being applauded and rewarded for making one move in her whole life?
One of my teachers gave a beautiful analogy. The tests we are given in life are the weights that strengthen our spiritual muscles and G-d is our personal trainer. A person who coasts through life without any resistance also doesn't build up any muscle because there was nothing for them to strengthen themselves against. It occurred to me that this woman was being applauded because she'd never weight trained before! She needed the encouragement because for her that one move took all the strength she had. Each time I had one of my 18 moves I was being strengthened and trained to push myself harder. G-d keeps throwing me additional weight because He knows I have more strength in me that He can draw out. There is a Jewish saying "Lefum Tzaara Agra" which literally means "As the suffering so is the reward" or the more colloquial phrase: NO PAIN, NO GAIN.
As much as it hurt to admit to myself, all these challenges I keep getting thrown are really for my benefit and are in themselves my reward. Are there times I feel like I can't push anymore...YES! Are there times when the pain is excruciating...YES! But I know that I have the BEST personal trainer possible and ultimately the results are going to be amazing.
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