I found this Fantastic Mashal, which is relevant to all of Sefer Shemos:
A great sage was staying at an inn far from his home. Late at night, he sat down to say the Tikkun Chatzos, the lamentations over the destruction of the Temple that pious people say after midnight. The sage was so moved by the words of the lamentations that he burst into tears.
The innkeeper came running. "Rabbi, rabbi, what happened? Why are you crying?"
"Because our holy Temple was destroyed," said the rabbi. "Ah, if only the Messiah would come already and take us all out of this exile! Don't you dream of such a day?"
The innkeeper fidgeted. "Well, what about my inn? What would happen to it? And what about my goats and my chickens? Will I have to leave them behind?"
"Your goats! Your chickens! Forget about them. Think about the wonderful life that awaits us in Israel."
"Well, to tell you the truth, rabbi. I'm doing fine right here. I'm not sure I want to change things so much."
"But don't you ever have trouble from the local riffraff that call you a zhid and steal your chickens in the night?" the rabbi asked, trying to find a way to inspire the simple innkeeper to yearn for redemption.
"Yes, you are right," said the innkeeper, his brow darkening for a moment, but he immediately brightened. "I have an idea, rabbi! Let's send all the riffraff to Israel, then we can live here in peace. That would be a fine redemption!"
I think there's so much depth to this. I wish for redemption - to finally break free from all the nonsense that's holding me down. The problem is, that my twisted vision of redemption is to take all the horrid feelings and consequences that result from my indulgence in lust and send THEM away, while keeping the Geshmak of that lustful indulgence - the fantasy, the escape.
I think there's so much depth to this. I wish for redemption - to finally break free from all the nonsense that's holding me down. The problem is, that my twisted vision of redemption is to take all the horrid feelings and consequences that result from my indulgence in lust and send THEM away, while keeping the Geshmak of that lustful indulgence - the fantasy, the escape.
What I fail to realize (in my kishkes), is that that's impossible. There's nothing Geshmak about that lust. If I were to view that lust from an outsider's perspective I'd see it for what it is - a truckload of empty filth!!
Ribono Shel Olam! Tatte!! Help me remember that when I need it most!