Masai, the final parsha of Sefer Devarim, leaves us at the completion of the journey of the Hebrews before they reach the Promised Land. Chapter 53: lines 1-50 list the forty two stops the Hebrews. I had never really paid attention to this list before, but the fact that each of the stations is named is significant and a point for reflection. The Ba'al Shem Tov, the founder of the Chasidic movement, equated those 42 stations, to 42 stations spanning a person's lifetime. In preparing for this post, I listened to a podcast where the teacher, Rabbi SB Gershuny, asked the participants in the class to reflect on what those 42 stages might be in their lives. I will play this idea forward and ask you, when this little poem is complete, to use this week's parsha as a time to reflect on the stages of your life leading to today. Of course, we cannot go backwards and change things in our lives, but just taking that time to reflect upon them helps us in going forward toward that final stop, yet unknown stop, Station 42.
Dreaming Backwards From Station 42
If we could only know where the final station is;
that 42d station,
the station so elusive to us,
but thought about many times.
It isn’t visible through the haze
until the very end
and it is too late
Or, is it?
Perhaps
that
42d station
is just a
momentary
resting place,
a point of departure
from where
we can begin to dream,
dream backwards
Weightless now,
unencumbered
no troubles,
no cares.
With
our arms outstretched,
we are free.
We hover
over
the other stations in our
Lives
Topsy Turvey
as they were;
soaring by
events,
high points,
low points, too.
Stations
as we were on our journey
we ran past
in our haste
to arrive at
that next station
in
Our
Often
Bumbled,
imperfect,
but such sweet
journeys
to station 42.
Flying backwards
perhaps,
a final gift
as we hover for a moment
over favorite stations
that have brought us
So many
Glorious smiles.
Oh, the people we have loved
Oh, the stories we have lived.
So much love.
And as we soar
through that
enveloping
light
laughter erupts
Like a spring.
As we fly,
So fast
Backwards,
From station
to station,
to the
very
beginning
How glorious it is
to see it played backwards
one
more
time.
We blow one final kiss
which lands lightly
like the finest
snowflakes
on those we love.
But now
we must return.
Fear not,
You are not alone
Michael flies on your right
Gavriel to your left
Ahead is Uriel
and Refael is behind you.
The haze is gone.
Station 42 is waiting
Shimmering.
Shining bright.
We can fly forwards now.
Our backward journey has ended
and the light awaits.
אֵ֜לֶּה מַסְעֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָצְא֛וּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁ֖ה וְאַהֲרֹֽן׃
These were the marches of the Israelites who started out from the land of Egypt, troop by troop, in the charge of Moses and Aaron.
Numbers 33:1 (From SEfaria)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ksKJSR1Wh0 Rabbi Kohenet Sarah Bracha Gershuny speaks about Parshat Matot -Masai
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stations_of_the_Exodus The Stations of the Exodus