Time to Wander

A traditional metaphor for the time of Lent is "wandering in the desert".  In real life, wandering in the desert forces us to focus on the most basic physical needs.  The search for water, shelter and food drives every other thought from the mind.  There is no such thing as a trivial distraction in the scorching heat.


Our Lenten desert should force our focus on the most basic spiritual needs.  Do we thirst for prayer?  Do we hunger for quiet meditation?  Is our soul brightly lit by the journey? OK, it is possible to push the metaphor too far.

Simply put, wandering in the desert can encourage us to put down daily distractions and hold close what is really precious. There is time in every day for spiritual learning.  We just need to put aside the busy-ness and make a little space.  Time for a walk, time for prayer, time for quiet.

The desert in our modern lives doesn't have sand and sun.  It is a desert packed with activity, noise and appointments.  There is no room left for the most basic spiritual needs.  Use the final two weeks of Lent to make a tiny bit of quiet, a few moments of time.  In the Lenten desert, making time to wiggle your toes in the sand can be a spiritual journey.  (photo courtesy of flickr/sibhusky2)