Julie Guest
This week our country officially moves into the season we call autumn. In the church year, we are in the season called Lent. It’s a bit of a weird name for those not used to church ways, but the weirdness has real grounded reasons.
The Bible tells us that before Jesus began his adult work of challenging the cultural, justice and spiritual practices of his day, of lifting people out of oppression, of healing and of demonstrating and teaching God’s love for them, as with any challenging task, he needed preparation. The first part of this preparation was a public affirmation from God that Jesus was on track and ready for the next step. That was immediately followed with Jesus being sent into the desert; a place of wilderness- apart from everyday life, from loved ones, support systems, and distractions – to prepare his spirit for the work ahead. It was a testing time, without which Jesus may not have had the courage to face what came next.
In the church we call this a wilderness time – and we recognise that most of us also have a wilderness time in our lives. It may be triggered by change, by loss or through bereavement. Life-changing events can “unearth” us, leave us mooring-less and lost. Jesus’ experience in the wilderness serviced to ground, strengthen, and equip him. We who want to learn from Jesus, believe that wilderness times even when unsought and painful, can in time, and with support, equip us for a new direction, new life.
During Lent, Christians choose to experience a kind of wilderness time, emulating Jesus’ desert days. We seek to take time away for our usual distractions and amusements. We work to observe those around us more intentionally. We spend time listening to others and try not to fill conversations with our words. We also “listen” to God. It’s hard to describe that kind of listening, because it actually involves all our senses and our intelligence. We study our bibles together, we talk with God and we stay alert to the world around us. All these ways can combine to help us “hear” God.
In Te Awamutu the St John’s church on Arawata St will be open during the last week of March Monday to Thursday. Anyone who would like to spend time in the quiet of God’s presence is invited to come in. On Good Friday, we will gather at St Patrick’s Church at 10am and walk through the main street, stopping along the way to think about what it must have been like for Jesus who also walked through a public path on the way to his death. We’ll arrive at St John’s to listen to the part of the Bible that tells of Jesus final moments. We’ll be in awe again at all that Jesus suffered for us. We will remember again that wilderness , Jesus’ journey and the result.
In Te Awamutu there are at least eight churches. If you are in a wilderness, seeking a new direction, or feeling lost, those in your local church can walk with you through it. We have learned from the best example!
