Wandering in wilderness is dangerous
but could bring spiritual renewal, insights

The gospel lesson for the first Sunday of Lent in the Common Lectionary is Matthew 4:1-11, and whether we use this passage in worship or for private meditation, we begin the Lenten journey with Jesus in the wilderness.
Flying to El Paso earlier this month, I had several eye-opening experiences that will change this image of wilderness for me forever.
Of course, Jesus wandering in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights reinforces the ancient image of God’s people wandering in the wilderness for 40 years and connects Jesus spiritually to the generations that preceded him.
It also puts him in contrast to the generations that preceded him because, while they whined about not having enough to eat or drink, he refused the devil’s temptations to use his God-given spiritual power to turn stones to bread. While the previous generations proved to be faithless in the wilderness, he proved to be faithful.
I have driven through West Texas, New Mexico and Arizona many times, but I have rarely flown over those areas in the daytime when everything is in plain sight. Approaching El Paso, I was astounded that the barren land stretched as far as I could see in either direction. From the air, there appeared to be not a scrap of vegetation, not a drop of water, for miles and miles. At one point, with a small crater in sight, I realized that what I was viewing looked much like images I’ve seen of the surface of the moon.
That brought a new reality to mind about wandering in wilderness this barren. This desert did not have the unique beauty of the Arizona desert. No cactus. No shade trees. No oasis. Miles and miles of dry, barren land was all that was in sight until we got close to El Paso and Juarez. Then the landscape began to be relieved by a little green here and there.
In El Paso, I heard stories about people who attempt to cross this desert wilderness on foot in the hope that they can make a better life with employment and food for the family after they crossed. Rescue teams who offer compassionate ministry in the desert find people who have died. But members of those teams told us that, for every person they find, they estimate that three are never found.
Crossing the desert or wandering in the wilderness is dangerous business. Even Jesus faced the possibility of his own death there, and if we don’t believe that, then we have to acknowledge that his ability to resist temptations there loses the powerful meaning intended. He proved his faithfulness precisely because he could be tempted by what the devil proposed just as you and I can be tempted by the same.
On your journey through the season of Lent, are you planning to wander in the desert wilderness? Be careful. It’s dangerous business. You may discover your own spiritual death. You may meet companions along the way who are in desperate need. You may not be able to resist temptations placed before you.
Of course, you might also experience spiritual renewal that will bring new meaning to resurrection.

“For you shall go out in joy,
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and hills
before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12