Rebbe Nachman's story continues with the Simple Man having become a cobbler making a particularly hideous looking shoe which he could only sell for a few pennies to a pauper. Looking at the fruit of his labors the Simple Man began to sing and dance and praise God for his ability to make such a shoe.
Rabbi Aroush points out that the shoe should have symbolized to the Simple Man all of his shortcomings. It should have forced him to focus on his inability to be properly educated and to make a decent living. It should have reminded him of the ridicule he often suffered from other people. Yes none of these thoughts entered his mind. Instead, he took the symbol of his shortcomings and danced with it happily. He was able to do so because he was at peace with himself.
To achieve this peace a person must be aware of his shortcomings and believe that this is exactly who he must be in order to achieve his destiny in this world. Ignoring ones shortcomings, or convincing ones self that they don't exist can only lead to an artificial and temporary joy. Eventually the issues will bubble to the surface and he will be forced to deal with them. This will happen because it is only be coming face to face with them that he can achieve his destiny.
Whatever bad hand a person feels he has been dealt - a difficult spouse, abusive parents, tyrannic boss, impossible children - there was no error in God's plans that brought these issues about. On the contrary, they are the necessary ingredients to assist him in achieving his destiny.
Don't fool yourself into thinking that people who are happy and righteous are able to accomplish that because they have fewer or easier challenges in life. The fact that that is simply not so.
It is not greatness that brings about joy, it is joy that brings about greatness.
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