Don't Survive, Thrive!

For most of my 24 years as a priest I have lived in the desert, at Bidyadanga and Balgo. The desert taught me a many things, and some of them have been crucial to my survival.

The first is that you need to be aware. In the desert, people who don’t know what is going on around them die: it’s as simple as that. I have buried many people who did not believe this fact.

Second, little things make a difference. If a person travelling or living in the desert is prepared, they check and double check their fuel and water, they check when they come up to an unfamiliar crossing or track. They will survive when something goes wrong.

If a person in the desert follows this, they will not only survive but thrive. The desert will be a home of plenty that supports and nurtures that person.

The most important decision times for Jesus were in the desert. There he sat, thought, fasted and gained strength: He listened to God.

Lent is our desert time. During the next six weeks, take time to listen (pray with your mind, see where you are and what is right and wrong with our life); take time to go without something, to fast from food (pray with your body, knowing that we are tempted and that we need to make ourselves strong against temptation); take time to do good things for others and helping people a long way away through Project Compassion (pray with your actions, putting our faith into practice). The order is important, because it makes no sense to fast without prayer (it is not about dieting), or to give to others if we don’t acknowledge our connection as humans created by God (it is not about making us feel good)

In all of this, smile, because you and I know something that is wonderful, that Jesus is real and that people who believe in him can alter that course of our world. Lent is a great time, a chance that you and I have to make our lives and this world better for all people.

If you want to join this, come and be signed with ashes, but remember, if you are signed with ashes you are saying that there is something more to life than you can see around you, and that this lent you are going got make a difference to your life and the lives of others.

This Lent don’t just survive, thrive!