Rav Chaim Writes a Letter

The last Rav of Brisk, Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik, related that he once saw his father, Rav Chaim, writing a letter to the Maharil Diskin. Rav Chaim dipped his nib into the ink and was suddenly seized by a trembling, unable to continue. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He stood and paced the room, then sat down again and wrote the word Lichvod.

Again his whole body shook as he tried to decide how to address the holy gaon. Rav Yitzchok Zev added that if the mighty cedars were struck in this way, what could the small bushes say?