As I think about taking my journey into the wilderness, I pause to wonder how my journey might look. For me, I have a vision of walking through an area surrounded by mountains. Kind of like the picture that I took standing on the porch of my church. It is not a desolate place, but one that engages me to think and take in the beauty of the land. I need this space to grow and reflect on my situation.
For some, the wilderness is nothingness with miles of open space. There are no mountains to see, nor rivers to stop by and rest. It is a harsh place. Many people do their best thinking in the most unforgiving of circumstances. Emptiness encourages them to fill their souls with strength for the journey.
When all is said and done, we encounter God in our places, in our own time. It may be in the center of a range of mountains, or the vast openness of a plain. Whatever it is, we mark the spot and keep going back. Wherever we find a place of peace where we can experience holiness, that is where we are meant to stop and enjoy what feeds our souls. For me, it will always be the presence of mountains.
Today I am grateful for the ability to set my course to discover the God that lives within me, anxiously moving me forward. May you enjoy your time in the wilderness, wherever that may be. May your spirit soar as the Holy One fills your soul. And as we chart our course onward and upward, may we never forget that we are all in the process of being transformed. Praise be to God for another day to journey and rediscover our strongest most passionate selves.
From a Pastor's Point of View 