On the first Sunday in Lent, we hear the reading from Mark where Jesus is sent into the wilderness. Describe a ‘wilderness time’ in your life.
photo credit: Cassio Dourado
It was 1977 when we finally found our dream house way up in Benedict Canyon off a little winding road. Three and a half acres of land with a barn, a guest house, and an exquisite little Japanese Country house. My big shot movie producer boyfriend and I had been looking for a long time with no luck until we drove into this hidden gem and made an offer on the spot.
We moved into the rather funky guest house while we renovated the main house. I was only in my early twenties and didn’t know a thing about construction, but every day I was barraged with questions, “Do you want this outlet here or there? Do you want oak or cedar?”
Everything took longer and cost more than anticipated and the stress started to take a toll on us. All his stress came out as anger at me. My boyfriend became Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I never knew who I would be dealing with. Eventually, I couldn’t do or say anything without an onslaught of hurtful and demeaning words hitting me like fists.
I was with this man for ten years. Much of the time we were happy and content. But the undercurrent of his anger and belittling was always a threat.
I remember sitting out on the steps in front of our dream house after a particularly bad day looking up to the sky and asking God to help me. I was in the wilderness of anxiety and despair. Where is my help to come?
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Grant to your people, Lord, grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh ad the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only True God; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
LISTEN TO TAIZÉ
Taizé (pronounced: tay-zay) is a prayerful form of music known for its simple, yet rich and meditative character. Listen to our Lenten selection by clicking on the link below.
FURTHER READING
Click on the link below to read Sam Candler (Dean of the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, Georgia) reflect on the question: "how do we observe Lent when the whole year has been Lent?"
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