SHOFTIM - WHO HAS TIME?
In this week's parshah, Shoftim it speaks of a Jewish siege around a city that take place for YAMIM RABIM - many days. Rashi explains this to mean just 3 days. This is a bit astounding as we find that when Yakov Avinun worked for Lavan for 7 years he considered all those years just YAMIM ACHADIM a short few days!
The Zohar says that on a deeper level, this passuk is directed at the Satan. When it is decreed for a "siege" of judgement to fall upon Klal Yisrael, Hashem tells the Satan that 3 days is too much time for Talmidei Chachamim to suffer affliction and have disruption from their Torah. So when Torah is being interfered with, three days is Yamim Rabim - alot. But when Yaa'kov was listening to his mother Rivka in seeking his zivug, and his investment of time towards that mitzvah of marriage itself, all the time in the world is considered quite little.
This is the concept of היום קצר והמלאכה מרובה - however much time you may think you have, if you are a בעל מלאכה - a spritually productive person, there never is enough. The day is always too short. Life is short for a real בעל מלאכה.
"Long days of summer" is the phrase of those who are not truly active and productive. They have no sense of urgency that comes with a מצווה ועושה. Someone who is aware that אנן אגירי יומא אנן - we are hirees for the day, and ובעל הבית דוחק - The Boss is always pressing, sees time as fleeting.
One week into Ellul, many can still have the feeling that there is plenty of time until Rosh HaShanah to do Teshuvah. And even after that there is still time until Yom Kippur. But that must be a person who has no concept of the מלאכה at hand. He is totally blind of the responsibilities of tikkun that require his attention. He is a Batlan. A Batlan has time.
We have just Yamim Achadim. Chap Arain and fix and do as much as you can. Now.