Finding freedom in an unlikely place
Lent is traditionally a period of self-denial and penitence, which begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts until Holy Saturday (the day before Easter). Many people observe Lent by giving up a treat or luxury, such as chocolate, alcohol, or meat. For this reason, Lent is sometimes seen as a bit of a gloomy time, but actually a central motif of Lent is the theme of freedom.
This is because the observance of Lent goes all the way back to Jesus’ fasting in the wilderness for forty days before the beginning of his public ministry. This in turn was an identification with the story of his ancient people of Israel who travelled through the wilderness after escaping Egypt for forty long and difficult years. For the people of Israel, freedom from the oppressor didn’t lead directly to the promised land. Rather, they had to contend with the difficulties and mysteries of the desert, as they began to learn what it meant to live in freedom rather than bondage.
Since arriving in Sedbergh and Dent, I have seen quite a bit of rain, and stories of the hot, dry, desert lands seem quite remote! But the desert is a place that we inhabit in our lives whenever we sense we are caught between two destinations. Whenever we are no longer sure of which direction we are travelling in, or what the outcome of our situation will be like. We all have ‘desert plains’ in our interior lives, as well as sometimes in our public lives as well.
As we move through Lent this year, you may find it helpful to consider where your desert experiences are at the moment. Where are the places that seem to lack life and energy? It is possible that these experiences are pointing to a deeper freedom that you are yet to uncover. That’s really the point in giving up something for Lent. We find that by going without something for a season can actually lead us into greater freedom. It is also a reminder to us of our humanity, our mortality, our dependence on the world around us, and on God who is the source of all life and love.
Have a good Lent, and I look forward to celebrating with you the good news of the resurrection when Easter arrives next month!
Revd Andy Burgess