Don't Miss the Sale

Moshe Shlomo, a follower of Rabbi Dovber, the second Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, became very ill. His father-in-law Reb Yisroel Meir would frequently write letters to the Rebbe asking that he plead for Divine mercy on Moshe Shlomo's behalf, but it didn't help at all.On Lag B'Omer, when the Rebbe was sitting together with his brothers Reb Chaim Avrohom and Reb Moshe, and with his sons-in-law and many chasidim at the Lag B'Omer meal, Reb Yisroel Meir approached the Rebbe with a note on behalf of his son-in-law, Moshe Shlomo, saying that this is the second month that his son-in-law had been so sick that he couldn't speak.
The Rebbe gazed for a long time at the note, and said: "For the sickness of tuberculosis it is good to have a change of climate. Let him come here and hear Chasidic teachings, and he will be able to speak, and have what to speak about."
Why weren't Reb Yisroel Meir's requests effective before? We do not know. But we do know that the Rebbe regarded Lag B'Omer as a very great day, one on which he would perform miracles. The fact that it was not until this special day that Reb Yisroel Meir's plea was effective teaches us a lesson.
From time to time we mark special days in the general Jewish calendar or in the Chasidic calendar, and when each day comes along, we are told that it has a unique significance. However, in order to connect with the special quality of this day, conscious effort is required, because the external world looks the same. "How is today different from yesterday?" one may ask. Yet one who expends the necessary effort learns that today is indeed very different from yesterday.
Passover, Sukkot, Chanuka, Purim, Lag B'Omer, Tu B'Shevat, and so on, in the general Jewish calendar are days that most of us are familiar with and each have their own unique quality, character, and spiritual energy. In the Chabad-Lubavitch Chasidic calendar, Yud-Tet (19) Kislev, Yud-Alef (11) Nissan, Gimmel (3) Tammuz, and so on, are probably much less familiar to, or even unheard of in, the general Jewish community. And yet, all these days can be summed up with one word: opportunities.
On each of these days a special spiritual light shines that only shines once a year, and when we do something to connect with this light - by learning about the meaning of the day, meditating on it, discussing it with others, reflecting upon it, and trying our best to connect with it, then it can raise us up to a certain otherwise unattainable spiritual level.
This coming Monday, Yud (10) Shevat, is one such occasion. It is the day when the Lubavitcher Rebbe became Rebbe. So it is a day of connecting to the Rebbe through studying his teachings and through being involved in activities that he encouraged.
Perhaps this is comparable to a sale. All year round, the customer is expected to pay full price, and no bargains are accepted. When the store holds a sale, however, one can purchase the same product on discount for a fraction of the price. But once the sale is over, it is too late to grab those bargains - one has no choice but to wait until the next sale.
Likewise, when a special day arrives, G-d in His kindness is granting us a special, limited time offer. If we are wise, we will make the most of it.

Adapted with permission from an article by Rabbi Yehoishophot Oliver on a-farbrengen.blogspot.com