In this March reflection, Pastor Bob considers the meaning of the wilderness in scripture and in our present moment. As we journey through Lent, he reminds us that unfamiliar or uncomfortable seasons can become times of growth, resilience, and renewed blessing.
Lent is often seen as a time for reflection and self-chastening penitential fasting. We give up stuff we like to make ourselves uncomfortable. We move into the unknown. It is like being in a wilderness.
In scripture, a wilderness is a place where all things are different, a place where the familiar landmarks are gone. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness; the Israelites wandered in the wilderness after the escape from Egypt. The symbolism of a wilderness goes beyond the mountain where Jesus was tempted for 40 days or the desert where the Israelites wandered for 40 years; a wilderness is any place where we feel like our surroundings are unfamiliar, a place where we might feel uncomfortable.
As we look around at today’s world, many of the familiar things we took for granted have changed. Markets are unstable; jobs are in question; energy prices move like yo-yos; global climate issues threaten our future; and our nation is nearly unrecognizable. We might look back fondly on the good old days when things were perfect. We want to get out of this wilderness.
I don’t know about you, but my glasses are not strong enough to make the good old days look perfect! The good old days were not always good. The good old days had ups and downs.
We have made it through the wilderness before. We have faced challenges and survived. What can we do in the wilderness? We can grow, become stronger, and find new blessings. That is how the good old days became good, and someday we may look back on 2026 with nostalgia and remember these days as the good old days.
Lent is a good time to reflect on life with some clarity and remember that all of life is a blessing; every day can be a gift.
