A Chassidic Story (#27)
Reb Mendel of Bahr once related the following:
When I was young, there was a period when I was davening (praying) with particular passion and fervor. One day, while I was davening, the thought struck me: How do I dare daven to God, when I am so filled with sin?! This thought broke my heart.
For the longest time I couldn’t rid myself of it. I thought it was a good thought, right thinking. Then, a while later I reflected and asked myself: How come when I sit down to eat, I never think, “How dare you eat when you’re so filled with sin” and never get brokenhearted?
With that I shoved the thought away.
May the merit of the tzaddikim protect us and all Yisrael. Amen.
Based on Shivchei Baal Shem Tov #103
© Copyright 2012 O. Bergman
