In a moment of desperation, a person makes a decision that prioritizes their immediate reality at the expense of their long-term interests. This may not be such a foreign situation for many of us. Have you ever chosen to eat something in a fit of hunger that you knew you might regret later? At times do you prioritize entertainment over education? Keeping our long-term desires in mind during every day decisions is difficult. Esau, in our parasha this week, faces this problem on a significant scale. Coming back from the field ravenous, he gives away his birthright in exchange for lentil soup. It is a reminder to keep our long term goals in mind and to not take advantage of those acting in desperation.
What do you hope to achieve this year? What will help you reach it?