3 Responses to

1. emunaman says:

   April 8, 2011 at 12:51 pm

   I’ve always struggled with this concept. why should one look to get out of hardships when it’s “good?” maybe we should look to put ourselves in hardships? Also, shouldn’t one enjoy Hashem’s world and use it to connect? one is capable of connecting on “easy street” just as much as connecting on “strugglers lane.” there’s more to go with this but I think we have the basic dilemma down….discuss

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2. Jeremy says:

   April 8, 2011 at 1:15 pm

   I think he is just saying that we should be happy no matter what. If things are good, great. If things are not seemingly good, maybe it is because Hashem is trying to correct something for you, or make you want to cry out to Him and get closer to Him. Of course we should not put ourselves in harms way.

   You also stated that “one is capable of connecting on ‘easy street’ just as much as connecting on ‘strugglers lane.’” Just because he is capable, doesn’t mean that he is actually doing it. I would bet that most people daven much harder when things are bad than when things are good. We should probably daven as hard when things are good, so that Hashem doesn’t give us a reason to have to daven even harder.

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3. emunaman says:

   April 8, 2011 at 1:28 pm

   from his language; R’ brody seems to be focusing on someone who has a hard time is favored in Hashem’s eyes. I find it hard to believe he’s refering to everyone. In terms of your second statement; I would agree that it’s more likely someone will want to daven harder when going through struggles. That brings up this idea; the one who’s living on “easy street” is the one who’s challenged more. I would say perhaps he’s the one who’s favored in Hashem’s eyes. R’ brody is addressing something very abstract which makes his statement very complicated.

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