I just had the privilege to learn a maamer (a Chassidic electrifying talk by the Rebbe) and one of the beautiful points is as follows – leather must be softened, for as it comes from the animal it is ungainly, tuff and nonmalleable – similarly, a human being to walk in God’s footsteps, first and foremost learns how to overcome his leather, his natural desires – this then makes him the receiver of the infinite wisdom of God in the messianic age!