One who does not trust in GD mourns exceedingly if constant tragedy strike him if deprived of what he loves or if denied his wishes He saves up great stores of material wealth as if he were secure from passing away The fear of death departs from him as though his day would never end and his life would never cease He does not bear in mind his later end and occupies himself solely with this world giving no consideration to religious interests making no provision for his ultimate destination His confidence that he will live a long life is the cause of his prolonged passion for the affairs of this world and his slight interest in what concerns his latter end pg 455
Once, on a Motzoei Shabbos, the chasidim were sitting in the bais medrash of the Ruzhiner Rebbe zy”a for Melave Malka. Suddenly, the Rebbe opened the door of his room next to the bais medrash, stood at the entrance, and said, “The Baal Shem Tov was not a deity, and the zaida, the Magid, was not just an ordinary wagon driver. And once, when the holy Baal Shem Tov prayed, his talis fringe fell out of his gartel and dragged on the floor. The Magid approached, picked it up, and put it back in the gartel, but he was trembled with such tremendous fear that he fainted and his life was in danger. They were compelled to rouse the Baal Shem Tov from his deep dveikus in order to calm him.” He then added, “I told you that the Baal Shem Tov was not a deity and my zaida, the Magid, was no wagon driver. Still and all, when he touched the Besht’s garment, he fainted from fear. The entire world is Hashem’s garment. How much fear must we feel to touch this world!” May the memory of the...