Parasha Devarim – Are you…

We are are continuing our weekly Series:

Today, we are learning, how Parasha Devarim speaks to those who seek Recovery.

Is there any REST in this Journey called Life?

Parasha Devarim is the last book of our Torah.  And is referred to as “Mishneh Torah” which is translated as “repetition of the Torah.”  Our Sages teach us that the entire Book of Devarim was spoken by Moses to the Jewish people during the last few weeks of his life.  He spends this time recapping all that they had been thru since leaving Egypt.  He also uses the time to give us additional laws that we would have to observe now that we were about to live in Eretz Yisroel.  Plus he rebukes the Nation to take care not to repeat the mistakes they made in the desert.

As we all know in this Parasha, we learn about THE FORTY TWO STOPS that Klal Yisroel made during their 40 years of travel in Bamidbar – the Sinai Desert prior to entering the Land of Israel.

There is so much to be learned about these Forty Two stops.  What occurred there, what we built in each location and how we often fell into the traps of temptation, which led to our ACTING OUT!

A lot can even be learned about the names of each of the stops.  For example, at “Marah” we witnessed one of G-d’s many miracles of turning the “bitter” waters sweet.  All the way from Chapter 1, verse 19 thru Chapter 3, verse 22 – Moses goes to great lengths to remind us that in spite of all the miracles G-d did for us along our Journey – we also chose to reject G-d and commit the craziest sins.

But I’d like to focus on one of the most important and meaningful stops of all.  First of all, if you do the math – we spent 40 years in the desert and had 42 stops.  You would think that we spent about a year in each of these stops.  But NO.  If fact, there were some stops that we spent just one day there, some times a few weeks and others a few months.  We also learn that our travels in the desert were really only over the course of 38 years.  And there was ONE STOP along the way, we learn about it in Chapter 1, verse 46 – the text is very strange.  It says,

“תשבו בקדש ימים רבים כימים אשר ישבתם

You dwelt in KADESH for many days, as many days as you dwelt.”

Rashi explains to us that the Jewish People settled in Kadesh for a total of Nineteen Years, as many days as they dwelt in all other resting places combined during their thirty-eight years traveling in the Desert!

Let’s consider how this Message speaks to us...

Take a look at the name of this most important location – the one where Klal Yisroel dwelt/rested the longest.  The name is Kadesh – קדש

SO WHAT?!  Does it really matter what the name of this Rest Stop is?

As Addicts seeking Recovery, we are keenly aware how turbulent and Unmanageable our lives have been up to this point.  And how many times when we were Standing at the Crossroads, struggling to make the right decision…do we stay off of the internet?  do we stay out of the massage parlors?  do we avoid gazing at or flirting with women?…and yet unfortunately standing there Powerless, WE FELL…again and again and again!

For those of you that are Working the Program, you know how many times G-d’s Holy Name is mentioned in the Big Book and the 12 Steps.  We learn on page 72 that our Mission Statement is to “get a new attitude, a new relationship with G-d and to discover the obstacles in our path.

The Jewish People had to spend forty years in the desert to be an Am Kodosh – a HOLY People.  They spent half of those years in a location called Kadesh.  The message is now very clear.  To be sober, to be in Recovery, we have to learn how to SEPARATE ourselves – to M’Kadesh ourselves from our Selfish and Self-Centered way of thinking.

“And in doing so, we will be able to Stand at the Crossroads, to make the right choices and WE WILL BE MORE HOLY!!”

If you’re like most of us, and having some difficulty maintaining your sobriety and recovery – let me share a little gift with you, based on my own personal GUIDE to help me fulfill the Twelve Steps.  I share this with all of the men and women I work with.  It is called the:

“Where are you on the Consciousness Scale Exercise” and I promise it will bring you sobriety, serenity and forever change your life:

Here’s how this Sobriety/Recovery Tool works.  Throughout your day/night, occasionally take a moment to think about where you are on the Consciousness Scale.  If I’m finding myself being Critical, Selfish, focusing only on what I can get out of any situation – then I’m hanging out in “Self-Consciousness” on the Scale.  And it is inevitable that people and situations probably won’t do what I WANT – and I’ll end up in Resentments or Fears – which for addicts means that we will most likely “Act Out!”

If I find myself being Kind, Generous and thinking about how I Can Help Others – then I’m in a much better place of “Other-Consciousness” on the Scale.  Which means that I’ll be much more Accepting of people and situations – and I’ll be much less likely to fall into resentments and fears – I will remain in Serenity and Sober.

Even better, if I can deliberately strive to have Emunah & Bitachon, be Humble and regularly ask “What does G-d want from me now?” I am living the ultimate Life of Recovery – Free and Liberated from the struggles and disappointments in life.  I am in a state of “God-Consciousness!”  With a bit of practice and time and regularly checking in with Where are you on the Consciousness Scale, then you will see your sobriety and recovery soar!!

I suggest you print and cut out this Consciousness Scale and keep it in your wallet or at your desk as a frequent reminder how to STAY OUT OF SELF!

Shabbat Shalom!

(ps. if you have a personal story or chiddush, you would like to share, I am looking for “guest” contributors to post.)