Dust to Life

-Blessing the Dust, Jan Richardson

The 6 weeks of Lent begins on the 14th of this month, a season that recalls the story of Jesus being led into the desert for 40 days and 40 nights.

The story happens before his public ministry and after his baptism and the voice that says, “You are my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus grows tired and hungry in the desert. He is tested, again and again, listens to voices, discerns the Spirits at work, and resists the temptations to be more than, and other than, himself. Finally, Jesus speaks the truth aloud: God is God and Jesus is, just, Jesus.

Our Lenten journey is a time of listening for and discerning the Spirits at work in our lives, a time to deepen our spiritual disciplines and resist the temptations of being more than just ourselves.

What practice helps me to grow closer to God? What discipline encourages me to become more and more of myself, more of more of God’s beloved?