Continuing the thought of the previous post about self deception:
A frum publication had a feature story about a well known frum billionaire. When he flies it is on his private jet. This might smack of excessive materialism and the money this costs him could be used for things like feeding hungry children. So he gave three explanations of why he does this - all of them religious explanations. Really, he was in effect saying, he does this for Hashem.
Maybe that is true. I cannot know what is in his heart. [Mussar Haskel: We can never know what is in someone elses heart!!!].
So this is not about him.
But in most cases the correct response might sound more like this: "Man, by nature, pursues comfort and pleasure and tries to avoid discomfort and displeasure. We are only willing to experience unpleasant things [such as getting through medical school or going to the dentist] because we think it will enable more pleasant things in the future. Man is a pleasure seeker. Full stop. Flying on my own jet is a pleasant, comfortable experience. Flying a commercial airplane is the opposite. I can afford it so I fly on my own jet. It is not about Hashem just like I don't ask myself every time I put food in my mouth if this is what Hashem wants. I eat because it is pleasurable and I fly in the most pleasurable way. I am not the Chofetz Chaim. Sorry if I disappointed you. That is the raw truth."
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Speaking of Jets:
NEW YORK CITY — The New York Jets have begun wondering if perhaps they should try some other sport besides football.
After years of spectacularly failing at football and off to an 0-7 start this year, the Jets finally began considering if maybe they were really better suited for some other sort of competition, such as badminton.
"Maybe football just isn't our thing," said Jets coach Aaron Glenn. "We gave it a good try. Well, we didn't, but that's kind of the point. What if we tried hockey? Eh, we probably don't have enough white guys. I'm sure there's something we're good at. We just have to keep searching."
The Jets reportedly came to the conclusion that football may not be their lane after realizing they are no good at passing, catching, running, play-calling, blocking, pass-defending, tackling, or kicking. "You know, this might not be our sport," said quarterback Justin Fields. "We need a sport that doesn't require any of those things, like bowling."
At publishing time, the Jets had posted a winless record through six weeks at a local bowling league.
