Our sages teach, good is the Yetzer Tov the good impulses in us, very good is the Yetzer Hara the narcissistic sexual impulses within us – now that sounds certainly like a statement made either by an evil ego driven narcissist or a sex-freak – what kind of a statement is that? – but in truth, had we not had any evil in us, we would be angels, now you may think “it would be cool to be an angel,” but one of the most inspiring stories I ever heard (from Rabbi Mordechai Rodal in South Africa) is the following
By zevi770 · July 6, 2014
A young man once asked the Rebbe:
“Rebbe why is life so tuff?”
Replied the Rebbe with an analogy – he took out a postcard from his desk and asked the young man “how much do you think this is worth?”
“Perhaps a dollar.”
“Now if this was painted, what would be the price?”
“Well it could range anywhere in the thousands to the millions?”
“Now which would be more accurate?”
“Well obviously the post card.”
“So why would a painting which is less accurate be so much more valuable than a postcard which is more accurate!?”
The young man got the question,
– answered the Rebbe
“You see God has postcards and he has paintings, the postcards are angels, picture-perfect, but they are a dime a dozen; but his masterpieces are each and every one of us!” for without the tremendous challenge (I can certainly attest to this – for fighting my Yetzer Hara makes every other endeavor not even look like child’s play, almost like non-existent) so fighting the Yetzer Hara is in truth the only thing that turns us angels into priceless works of art!