Into the Silence
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. – Luke 4:1-2 (NRSV)
It’s the first Sunday in Lent, and I’m sitting on a dilapidated sofa in the cottage where my youth group meets. We’ve just shared the story of Jesus being really hungry out in the wilderness, and we’re discussing what it might mean for us to follow him this season. Someone mentions a friend who gives up chocolate for Lent. Someone else has a cousin who’s giving up bread. And we wonder together if the story of Jesus in the wilderness isn’t only about giving up certain foods, but also about giving up false ideas of who we are, so we can make room for who God is calling us to be.
So I ask the group: Do you have something you do when you want to listen for the voice of your soul? Or when you have an important decision to make? What helps you to know the difference between what is really true for you and what is not?
And here’s what happens. Every teenager in the room says that yes, there is something they do when they need to listen to their own soul. And every single one of their personal rituals begins with what we might call a fast: “I turn off my phone and look out the window.” “I turn off my phone and just listen to music.” “I turn off my phone and go for a walk.”
Outside, a gentle rain begins to fall. Inside, we share hot cocoa and granola bars, savoring the gift of friendship, and the comfort of old sofas, and an abundance of snacks. Because we’re pretty sure that there are fasts we need and fasts we don’t. And today, everybody knows the difference.
Prayer
Holy One, lead us into sacred silence that we might hear your call. Amen.
About the AuthorRev. Yael Lachman is a UCC minister and artist who leads contemplative retreats, art adventures, and worship for all ages, most often in wild places. You can find Yael here.