Challenges. Challenges and challenges and challenges. That's what we feel today. A person is walking in the street. He feels he's just challenged; it's just too much, and he can't do it. The truth of the matter is that I learned from Rabbi Avigdor Miller that it's not about challenge; it's opportunity. And I'd like to explain.
I was at a gathering in someone's house, and Rabbi Miller, alav hashalom (peace be upon him), was the guest speaker there. At the end of his lecture, he offered to answer any questions on any topics. Somebody raised their hand in the crowd and asked, “What do we do regarding Shemirat Einayim (guarding the eyes)? And please don't tell us to learn Torah, because we do that every day. We're in shul early in the morning; we learn Torah before we pray. We learn Torah, many of us, after we pray; we go back at night, we learn Torah. But the minute we walk out of the Bet Midrash (synagogue), we are attacked. We are attacked by posters, by billboards, by people improperly dressed in the street. What does one do about this?”
Rabbi Miller said, “You have no idea how lucky you are. I grew up in America, and America, when I was growing up, was a decent place. Everybody dressed modestly; everybody dressed tzanua (modest). In order to receive that great sachar (reward), it was almost impossible. Today, all you have to do is walk out of your home. You're walking in the street. You see something improper, put your head down, and keep walking. You're a ben Olam Haba (person of the World to Come), and not just any type of ben Olam Haba. That great sachar is waiting for those people who are shomer (one who guards) in this area.” He says, “This is a golden opportunity. When I was young, I didn't have this opportunity. But you people in this generation, you have this opportunity to gain Olam Haba (the World to Come) in such an easy way. Just by putting your head down and keeping walking, you have the greatest sachar, the greatest netzach netzachim le'olmei olamim (for all eternity). Amen (so be it). Amen.”