As we saw in last week’s Parsha, the Aron consisted of solid wood, plated inside and outside with gold. In spite of the fact that the Aron was plated with gold much more valuable than the wood it covered, the Aron is nevertheless referred to in the Torah as the "Aron atzei shitim--the acacia wood Aron". Why is it that the Aron is described as wooden--and not as a more valuable and respected golden Aron? HaRav Shimshon Dovid Pincus, Z’tl, answers that, in fact, wood more aptly describes the Aron because wood is something that grows and that regenerates. Indeed, even if one cuts down a tree to the ground, its roots are left and a new tree can sprout forth. Gold may be valuable in this world, but it has no inherent capacity to live or grow. Our Torah is much more aptly described with wood for "etz chaim he--it is a living tree"--it enables one--even one who was down and out--to reinvigorate himself and renew his life.

Rav Pincus notes that this is the special nature of the month of Adar, and of Purim, as well. It is a time of Hischadshus--of a new lease on life both physically and spiritually. It is no wonder then, that after experiencing the miracles of Purim, our people’s immediate reaction was "kimu v’kiblu"--a rededication and revival to Torah commitment.

There is another important aspect to the days we are enveloped by. When one is flying on a plane which begins to experience some turbulence, he may be annoyed and find his way back to his seat, but, despite the fact that he is miles above the ground in a relatively small hunk of metal, he is confident, and even certain, that the pilot will safely navigate through the clouds and storm--without the help of any of the passengers. Now let us look at a lottery, or "Pur", upon which the holiday of Purim is based. When the winning number, or the winning day (as the case may be) is chosen, there is no talent, no third party, no expert consultant, who could have helped make the choice otherwise. It is simply Hashem’s clear, indisputable, unadulterated act. Haman HaRasha was looking for Hashem’s direction and seeming concurrence with his plan, and so he was elated with the lot falling out in the month of Adar--which he felt was Hashem telling him that he would be successful, since Moshe Rabbeinu passed away in that month (tomorrow, the seventh of Adar, is Moshe Rabbeinu’s Yahrzeit).

Everyone in life goes through stages in which he feels unsuccessful in one way or another--and that there is simply nothing that can be done about it. This is what his G-d-given capabilities simply are. Some even feel that way all the time about certain things—I’ll never daven a complete Shemone Esrei with Kavana; I’ll never learn Chumash/Rashi on the Parsha; I’ll never go through Mishnayos; I’ll never improve on my hastiness or my jealousy; I’ll never get rid of this middah or that habit...