Machshava:

Kabbalah 

Collections: Rabbi Weinberger: Living The Derech Of The Ba'al Shem Tov

Description

P. 51. A person can fight against his nature and make the choice to change, while an animal cannot. The chassida (stork) does its chesed (giving) with other birds based on pure self-interest. The essence of bechira (choice) is the human ability to see outside of oneself. A person can experience his value the most when making the right choice. Lack of free choice can lead to mindlessness. If you don't choose, you are on the level of a ba'al chai (animal). A Jew is able to think beyond this world to Hashem.