And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days; and when that had ended, He became hungry.
Luke 4:1-2
I have a confession to make: I am really bad at observing Lent. During a season that is supposed to be calm and reflective, I inevitably end up speeding up rather than slowing down, to the point where I arrive at the cross exhausted. I don’t advise this approach.
Without fail, I fly through Lent like it’s any other time of the year: putting emphasis on the destination, rather than the journey; more attention to the daily sprint than to the 40-day marathon. I attempt, albeit inefficiently, to map out the right prayer routine, the right topics to contemplate, the right books to read, the right food to give up—and I end up right back where I started.
The devil really is in the details…
How, instead, do I put God in the details?
Lent it supposed to be a challenge, but I’ve been making it tough for all the wrong reasons. I’ve been focused too much on the little things and not about spending time in the wilderness. So, that is my goal: to get lost and to be OK going deeper; and not feel like a step-by-step plan is the only way toward a more meaningful Lent.
It’s time to ditch the map, and instead, allow the Holy Spirit to chart the course.

Sara McGanity

 Appointed readings for today: Deuteronomy 26: 1-11, Psalm 91: 1-2, 9-16, Luke 4:1-13