I was thinking about the mishnah that says "run to do a light mitzvah." One meaning I knew about is that the reward for a mitzvah is another mitzvah. But then why does it need to be a light one?

It occurred to me just now that what it probably means is the following. Consider the words of the Mesillas Yesharim:

"one who perceives a quickening of his outer movements in the performance of a mitzvah conditions himself to experience a flaming inner movement, through which longing and desire will continually grow"

The reason this works is because of self-justification. Our minds are really good at finding supporting evidence for our actions. "Look, I am running to shul, I guess it's really important."

So there is greater value in running to do a light mitzvah, because it's a kal v'chomer. "If that is so important, that must be even more important.

We know rationally that there are no light and heavy mitzvos, but deep down we do have views on what mitzvos matter more, because our minds are often wrong. And here what matters is what we think. So if I want to awaken that inner fire maybe I need to find what I think is the least important mitzvah and "run" to do that one.

Nice Pshat!

Perhaps the converse is also true. If we make an effort to stay away from things that are not that terrible, then we can use it as a kal vachomer to stay away from the real terrible stuff.

MT