The Desert
The desert, I can never remember whether it is has one “s” or two. Then I recall that the one that has the double “s” is the tastier one. The desert doesn’t call up visions of beauty or excitement for me, and yet there is an allure to this place. I am often struck at how much life exists in the desert. It appears so desolate at first glance, but a closer look reveals something more.
The desert is solitary and silent. In this loud and chaotic world, I think most crave some form of quiet, some form of peace and serenity, from somewhere. I enjoy the quiet, truth be known. I’m somewhat of an introvert; maybe more than somewhat. The quiet, is very appealing and restoring to me. But why are we called into the desert for Lent? I can think of more beautiful, quiet places that we might enjoy more than a desert as a place of preparation for Easter. So why the desert?
Three things come to mind as I contemplate the desert the week before Lent begins. The first – there just isn’t that much to look at in the desert. It’s scenery is very uniform, barren and rather unexciting. In fact, it affords us very little to look at and thus offers very little to distract us. Nothing to look at or distract us? I think that’s a good thing during our Lenten journey. If we aren’t distracted and consumed by what is around us, our focus can be on the One who desires we look at Him. The desert serves as an ideal place to keep our focus on the Lord as it can strip away all that interferes from our gazing at Him. Hebrews 12:3 “Fix your eyes on Jesus…”
Secondly, it’s quiet in the desert. In the silence, God speaks. It can be difficult to hear His voice if we surround ourselves with the constant noise of the world. And that is what can happen in the world. The world is loud and it drowns out the whispers of God. In the solitude of the desert, in the quiet of our heart, we will hear the voice of God. In His pursuit of us, He invites us into the desert, into the stillness that affords us the delight of hearing His voice above all others.
Lastly, I’m kind of a nature girl, so when I think about being outside in the desert, maybe spending the night out there, I think about a shelter. Where would I find refuge from the harsh elements? There really is no place to hide in the desert. There are no tree canopies, or rock overhangs, or caves. There really is no natural hiding place to speak of. So we find ourselves uncovered and exposed. Being exposed brings vulnerability. Not a word that I necessarily celebrate. And that is exactly why we are called to a place where we cannot hide. In the shelterless desert, we stand exposed and uncovered so we can come face to face with our God.
As we enter the desert for forty days, let us fix our gaze on God, surround ourself with silence and stand exposed before Him. Let us look forward to Easter, to the Resurrection, where we receive the Living Waters, the oasis!
May your Lenten journey be filled with abundant life.
