42 Journeys, Part 3: The Difficult Years; Entering Life's Harsher Challenges
About this episode
The episode explores the metaphor of life's journey through the lens of the 42 journeys of the Jewish people, focusing on the challenges faced as one matures and enters harsher realities.
Life is a journey. The Baal Shem Tov teaches that the 42 journeys of the Jewish people through the wilderness are mirrored in the 42 journeys each of us travels in our own lives. And a wilderness is exactly what life can feel like. We enter a world that is often untamed, unpredictable, and at times even hostile. Our mission is to transform this wilderness into a home for the Divine. But not all stages of the journey are the same. In our early years, we are sheltered. We grow under the protection of parents, family, teachers, and loved ones. Even when challenges arise, we are buffered by the security of home. As we mature, however, we venture further into life's wilderness. The adversaries become more formidable. The tests become more personal. The stakes become higher. The first twelve journeys are closer to civilization, the challenges are easier. But beginning with the thirteenth journey, we enter into more dangerous territory. The Torah describes it as a "great and fearsome desert," a place of snakes, scorpions, and thirst. The travelers are now entering the harsher realities of life. It is no coincidence that at this stage they begin traveling with the Ark and the…
More episodes of Meaningful Life Skills with Rabbi Simon Jacobson
- 42 Journeys, Part 7. The End of Wandering. When the Journey Reveals its Purpose
- 42 Journeys, Part 6. The Final Wilderness. When Life Strips Away Everything but Truth
- 42 Journeys, Part 5. The Harvest Years. Aging, Wisdom and the Ripening of the Soul
- 42 Journeys, Part 4: Middle Age. The Quiet Question of Midlife. Is This All You Were Meant to Be
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