It’s like a variable analog voltmeter
What’s like a variable analog voltmeter? The way we should approach our introspection and T’shuva challenges.

Okay, but first - what’s a variable analog voltmeter?

Let’s say you want to measure the voltage of a double-A battery inside your Walkman. You can use the device pictured to the left. And if you want to measure the house current at a certain outlet? Same device. It can measure half a volt, 220 volts, and 1000V.

But it needs to be modified for different strengths of current. If the range for the needle on the meter is 0 to 1500 volts, you can’t really tell if a 1½V battery is good or not. And if you set the range for 0-10V and stick the probes into an outlet, you’ll burn out the meter (and not get the measurement you seek). The key to this device is the knob in the middle of the lower portion. You can set the range of voltage for the meter, custom tailored to your needs.

Lost? I hope not. Here’s the point. We need a variable Torah-observance meter to help us measure our own mitzva performance, so that we can accurately and honestly determine what needs improvement.

Let’s take “making brachot” as an example. (It is very helpful to try out several other examples on your own in order to understand the MASHAL and lwt it affect you.)

Plenty of Jews don’t make brachot at all when they eat. If your introspection meter is set for the range of NOT AT ALL to YES, I DO MAKE BRACHOT, then your reading will show the needle swinging all the way to the right and you will give yourself high marks for “making brachot” and then go on to the next area of halachic behavior on your introspection list.

But if you set the meter to a range of PRACTICALLY ALL THE TIME BUT NOT OFTEN WITH CARE AND PROPER KAVANA to CORRECT BRACHA WITH PERFECT KAVANA ALL THE TIME, then the needle might not get very far along its arc. And when you read the meter, you will have made a self-discovery of an area of halachic behavior to improve upon.

And so on and so on and so on. We have to be tough with our self-audit, so that G-d’s audit of our behavior as people and as Jews will go well. Don’t say, “Yes, I’m fully Shomer Shabbat.” Adjust the meter so that you will be able to see your shortcomings even for a “basically Shomer Shabbat” person. How’s the Lashon HaRa? Pretty good... comparatively. Is that good enough for you? No? Work on it. We can all do it.