Once, long ago somewhere in Russia, a Chassid was walking on his way on a bitter cold winter day when a merchant stopped with his open wagon offering him a ride. The wind was biting, the cold was deeply penetrating, and he had a long way to go, so he was grateful for the offer. The front bench was already occupied so he found himself a space between the large barrels in the open back of the wagon.
It was easier to ride than to walk, but the biting wind on the rushing wagon was even worse. He discovered that they barrels were filled with whiskey. He asked his gracious host, the merchant, if it was OK for him to take a glass to warm up with. (I think its been proven scientifically that alcohol doesn’t actually warm you, on the contrary – but at least it was thought so, and let’s pretend its that way for the purposes of this story). The merchant obliged, and our freezing traveler savored every sip, he felt the warmth seeping through his body, and enjoyed the rest of the journey much more comfortably.
Then the inspiration struck him: Here I am sitting on a wagon, surrounded on all sides by large barrels of whiskey. Gallons upon gallons of it! Yet none of it warmed me. But if I take one small glass of it, and internalize it, and take it within – ah, that makes all the difference!