March 2010
Director Of Discipleship
Dear Friends, Having entered the Lenten season we have begun our yearly journey to the cross. We begin the journey stepping into the wideness of the wilderness, a wild and dangerous place, a place to be alone without the everyday distractions of life and to come face to face with our humanity, mortality, weaknesses and limitations. Jesus begins his ministry after his baptism in the Jordan, by heading out into the desert for 40 days where he would be tempted by the devil, leaving behind what is familiar and known. Coming up from the waters of baptism, the Spirit took hold of him – of his energy, his vision, his skills, his abilities – and led him out into the desert. Jesus begins his ministry in the wilderness, perhaps an unexpected place, but it was there that the Spirit enabled him to resist the devil’s temptations to be someone other than who God was calling him to be. Temptations to do it all, have it all, control it all; to let a desire for power and wealth and popularity win the day. The season of Lent asks us to consider voluntarily entering the desert. Hearing God’s call and leaving behind the trappings of this world, willingly leaving behind familiarity, we open ourselves up to transformation. In doing so, we are following Jesus’ example. May it be so. Peace, Amanda
