The Opening of Teshuvah

The Alter taught a moshol about teshuvah. Hashem says to Klal Yisrael that if His children open for Him an opening of teshuvah like the eye of a needle, He will widen it so that wagons and carriages can pass through. The Alter asked how it could be that no one has ever opened even so small an opening. He answered that there are two kinds of openings. A hole made with a needle stays open from one side to the other. But a small hole made in a dam is held shut by the tool inside it, and the moment the tool is removed, the water gushes out and bursts the dam. The opening in our hearts is of the second kind. As soon as we open our hearts a little to let teshuvah in, the waters of sinful thoughts and desires rush in and can flood the heart and drown us if we do not take action to stop them.