It Is As Much A Sin To Not Recognize One's Own Strengths Poem by Shalom Freedman

The Torah teacher taught on Tisha B’Av

‘It is as much a sin to not recognize one’s own strengths
As it is to not attempt to correct one’s weaknesses
The spies refused to see the strengths of the people and the land of Israel
They reported on weaknesses and fears only’

Am I the spy of myself?
And do I do nothing but lament what I am not?
Why don’t I recognize
What I have done and what I can do?

I can after all write another small poem
Even if it means using the wisdom given on our day
Of greatest national tragedy
For my own small good.