Ki Savo (3): Ignoring a Shortcoming

תחת אשר לא עבדת  ה' אלוקך בשמחה
There is a very perplexing implication in this week's Parsha that the underlying reason for all of the curses that are enumerated is that we didn't serve Hashem with joy. This is very awkward; so many terrible Klalos, and for what? For not doing Mitzvos happily? This seems a tad too harsh.

An answer occurred to the Heilig Rav Moshe Tzvi of Savran (known as the Savraner Rav) during the following story:

The Kever of R' Moshe Tzvi of Savran

In the district where the Savraner lived there was a decree issued against the wearing of distinctly Jewish garb. All Yidden were to trade in their Levushim for more Goyish alternatives. Obviously, many pious Jews would not forsake their Mesorah (at the expense of serious persecution), but there were some who did not have the fortitude and gave in.

One such Jew once approached R' Moshe Tzvi and he had a look of satisfaction on his face that he had avoided the condemnation that those who were rebelling were facing. At that moment the resolution to our question struck the Savraner. He explained that the Pasuk is not to be understood that we didn't serve Hashem with joy, rather תחת אשר לא עבדת  ה' אלוקך... בשמחה, That we didn't serve Hashem, and when we didn't serve Him we were still happy.

Sometimes we slip. Hashem understands that we are human - that's how He made us. But he expects that if we fall we should at least express some remorse about it. How can one e happy while missing out on the whole point life? Our connection to Hashem is the purpose of everything. If one can abandon that and retain a sense of calm then something is seriously wrong. Hashem should help be sensitive to our shortcoming, and strong enough to overcome them.