We often think of the desert as a bleak and foreboding place; a place best left to those of God’s creatures meant for such a desolate environment such as scorpions, vultures, or lizards. Certainly it is not a place where any decent human being would find themselves unless by accident or the most extreme case of bad luck. We generally think of deserts as lacking in all of those things that make life possible – like water, food, shade, shelter. And yet, over the centuries various people have made the desert their home, and in fact have thrived in it. Those who do will tell you that there is a beauty to the desert which is evident only if you can get beyond the initial reaction to what is not there. In some respects, the sparseness of it is the key to its attraction. It is an uncluttered environment where nothing unnecessary or redundant is found. Its simplicity is a source of its beauty – a place where the brilliant color of a cactus’ flower is unchallenged by other more colorful attractions; or where the view of a sunrise or sunset, or even the horizon is unimpeded by anything unnatural. Its stark emptiness is part of its overall attraction.
Perhaps this why the Spirit drove Jesus into the desert wilderness as he began the preparation for his three year journey of ministry which would lead to the shame of the cross, followed by the glory of the resurrection. There is a sense of purity, clarity, and silent peace which has made it a favorite destination for some who have sought one-on-one time with God. There is a lack of distraction and a necessary oneness with your environment which heightens the senses and tunes one into the essential elements of life, or more importantly, causes us to rid ourselves of the distracting the superfluous, and the luxurious. For centuries, pious disciples have ventured farther and farther into the desert seeking to leave civilization behind and thereby find a unimpeded view of and experience with God. During the season of Lent, we are asked to find our own deserts: to seek places of solitude and clarity within our lives and within our souls which allow us to open a door for God to come in a start a conversation with us that is not disrupted by the extraneous things that inhabit our daily lives. Lent is a season when we make a commitment to creating scarcity, and hence a simple beauty in our lives which allows us to see the world in a new and different way – perhaps more like God would like us to see it.
As you embark on your Lenten journey, seek to find that desert in your lives in which you will be able to clear your heart and mind and soul of all the clutter and distractions which impede the Word of God. Whether it be through fasting, prayer, service, or meditation; attempt to free yourself of the things of this world, and focus on the beauty of God’s simple revelation. Join Moses, Elijah, Jesus, and the desert fathers and mothers who have found strength in simplicity and the stark wilderness of God’s world. It just might help you to accept the task of bearing a cross, as well as the resulting grace of Easter resurrection. Have a happy Lent!
Yours in Christ, Pastor Dave
