In so many of the great
figures of salvation history—Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah,
David, etc.—a period of testing or trial is required before they can commence
their work. We see the same thing in the initiation rituals of primal peoples, and
you can see it in Luke Skywalker’s initiation in Star Wars.
The goal of the Biblical initiation
rituals is to convey this simple truth: your life is not about you. It is about
God and God’s purposes for you.
This was the purpose of
Jesus's forty-day sojourn in the desert, which we model during Lent. The desert
represents a stripping away of our attachments, so as to make the fundamental
things appear. In the desert, there are no distractions or diversions or
secondary matters. Everything is basic, necessary, and simple. Either one
survives or one doesn’t. One finds in the desert strengths and weaknesses he never
knew he had.
So are you ready to visit
your desert? Are you prepared to deal with your particular temptations to pleasure,
power, money, and honor? Even if, in the past, you have not succeeded in the
ways you wanted, remember that our God is a God of second chances. It’s never
too late to start again.
On this Ash Wednesday, let's
recommit ourselves and together journey into the desert.
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