When we accept responsibility for doing something, that means doing everything we can to succeed
A few years ago, an IDF platoon raided a terrorist’s home in an extremely complex operation. One of the tacticians involved said they had charted out eight different plans for approaching the house. Having a Plan B is rule number one in military strategy. A plan might be perfect on paper, but in real life, surprises are inevitable. A commander who sends his soldiers to battle without a Plan B is a murderer.
When a duty falls to us, and failure is not an option, formulating only one plan would be deeply irresponsible. So why is it that we approach so many of our obligations with only one plan? I’ve heard many people lament their difficulties in chinuch, in tefillah, in learning, but when I ask them if they’ve tried a different approach, they look at me bewildered.
And because we only have one plan, we don’t accept responsibility if we fail. We did our best, we think, so if it didn’t work out, it’s not our fault. I can’t raise my kids to have derech eretz; kids today are all impudent monsters. I have a lot on my mind, so I can’t daven with kavanah. I have a lousy memory, so I can’t remember anything I learn. So we come to terms with failure by saying “we just have to do our hishtadlus.”
But think about different strategies? That never even dawns on us. It’s true that everything is in Hashem’s hands. But when we accept responsibility for doing something, that means doing everything we can to succeed. A general doesn’t send his soldiers off with one plan saying, “Have no fear — I’ve done my hishtadlus.”
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