2 GREAT stories.

Two stories. There is a plan and a virtuous and noble purpose behind everything that must happen.

Once a fellow came to see the Grand Rabbi of Apta. He told him, that his entire life he made a concerted effort to always earn his livelihood from the sweat of his own brow. He never turned to anyone for handouts or assistance because he recognized the importance and virtue of living off a person’s own hard work.

Now however, he was already becoming somewhat older and it was more difficult to work, and he had two more daughters to marry off. He didn’t have enough money to pay for the two weddings and certainly didn’t have enough money for a dowry. Recognizing that everything comes from the blessings and good luck of G-d, he was seeking a blessing from the Grand Rabbi that some opportunity, a lucky break, should come his way so he could earn a living and pay these expenses without having to accept from anyone.

The Grand Rabbi of Apta told him. “Heaven is upset with you! You desire to rebel against the Master of the Universe!  Let me explain. There are souls in this world who have no other merit to protect their own soul but the fact that they help others, in their time of need. G-d desires that these souls also reach their complete perfection and wholeness. Now G-d who is the cause of all causes will sometimes direct matters in such a way that a person with a worthwhile purpose will be forced to turn to these otherwise pitiable souls for assistance, and by them helping this worthy cause, their souls are redeemed and brought to a certain level of perfection.

And, you, are hesitating and declining to do this.

I therefore instruct you to travel to the cities you know where these people are, and that way you will help their souls with this huge merit and great good deed, of helping to marry off a bride in need.”

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Once there was a little town and it had its’ own humble Doctor.

Many times when the residents where not well and felt they weren’t sure what to do, they would go to the local Rabbi for advice. After all, the Rabbi had all the wisdom from the Torah, G-ds Bible, so certainly he would give them the best guidance.

After a while the local Doctor started noticing a trend with the Rabbis advice. The rich residents who could afford to pay full price where sent to the big city to visit the fancy and expensive physicians, while the hard working lower class residents, were sent to the local Doctor.

The Resident Doctor, decided to confront the Rabbi for an explanation. He was just as qualified as any Doctor in the big city, and why shouldn’t he also have the chance to receive the revenue from these better paying patients?

The Rabbi explained.

“For whatever reason G-d decides, when a person gets sick and encounters problems, sometimes, part of the equation, is how much effort and energy must the sick person put into the sickness before he can get better.

If I send you the rich patients who I know must spend more to get better, it will take so much more time until that happens, since you are local and it doesn’t take all that much time and money for each visit. By sending them off to a farther place, and therefore paying more money towards their sickness, they get over their quota faster, and are able to put their problem behind them sooner.”

Everything we feel sometimes forced to do has a reason behind it and it is always for the good of everyone involved.