Reuven and Shimon worked side by side as postal clerks. They both had the same hours and the same responsibility. They were even paid the same wages. The only difference between the two was that Rueven did not like his job and Shimon loved his job. One day the boss reminded Reuven that it was his turn to take out the garbage.
This request was too much for Reuven, his frustration had built up over the years and he let it all out in a tirade of insults directed at his boss. Fortunately for Reuven, his friend Shimon came running up and calmed down the boss. "Don't mind him, he hasn't slept well the past few days," Shimon said to the boss as he quickly whisked him away.
"What's going on with you?" Shimon asked his friend. "Why did you 'go postal' (ballistic) back there?" Reuven broke down. "I don't understand, we both have the same job and yet you are so much happier than me. What is your secret?" he sobbed. Shimon explained, "As I see it, you fulfill your duties out of a sense of responsibility. And although this is very commendable, it renders your job routine. Then you blow up because it has become a burden too heavy to bear. I come to work each day with no expectations. Each day is an opportunity to come closer to Hashem. I am always learning something new and therefore everyday I wake up as a new person. That's why my job never seems dull or routine."
The Nimshol is: The Torah says, "This day, Hashem, your God, commands you to perform these decrees and the statutes, and you shall observe and perform them with all your heart and all your soul." (Devarim 26:17) Rashi quotes the Midrash Tanchuma which explains that each day one should accept the mitzvas as if they were "new" commandments.
If a person integrates something new during the day, it changes him. The next day he wakes up as a new person and has a new relationship with Hashem. The whole world looks different from one day to the next. Ideally as one moves closer and closer to the Creator each day brings a new set of mitzvos. The difference between Reuven and Shimon is that Reuven equates his mitzvos as responsibilities while Shimon sees his mitzvos as opportunities. This prevents his job from becoming routine and burnout can never occur. No danger of going "postal"!
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