On February 17 I began a 40-day series. My first post was entitled Lent Begins: A Wild Beauty. Now, as Lent concludes, it seems only appropriate that the season’s last post should be bookmarked with the same name: A Wild Beauty. For indeed, there has been much.
Yesterday I was talking to my sister on the phone and she said, “I can’t wait for Lent to end so that you can come out of the desert!” We laughed. It’s true: these posts have been about shadows, struggle, heat, sadness, pain, disappointment, anger, loneliness, and so much more. The desert is harsh – and wild.
In the midst of such, I have also written of and witnessed deep rest, out-loud truth, acknowledged desire, and passionate creation. The desert is kind – and beautiful.
The desert is both. A paradox. As is life. Wild beauty.
For me, that is its lure, its call, its beckoning: untamed, provocative, unedited, exposing, raw, authentic. These are the sands in which I know the most hope; in which I am best able and willing to hold on to my faith.
Not particularly focused on the season in a religious or theological way, this has not been a typical journey through Lent. Still my faith has guided me. Doubts and questions remain right alongside my beliefs. More paradox. More desert. More wild beauty.
Jan Richardson’s words offered my Lenten invocation:
…to create to take what we find in the shadows of our lives and craft what never before has been seen.
My intention during these 40 days? To walk into and remain in the desert having faith that a wild beauty would yet be created – in me and in others. I am not disappointed. I am deeply grateful.
I end with her words as benediction:
I have sought you
in daylight
as if the discovery of you
would not scorch my eyes,
singe their lashes,
sear their brows;
as if your gaze
would not unface me,
lay bare every longing,
devastate all my knowing.And here you are,
teasing the corner of my eye,
offering peripheral visions,
knowing
that what can’t be borne
in sunlight
may still be known
in shadow.
As Lent ends, desert and shadow remain – tinged with a brilliant edge, a wild beauty. That is more than enough.
And yet, Easter is just days away.
I wonder: What does it mean to invite, anticipate, and welcome lush landscapes, deep wells, and life beyond limits?
As I end this Series I want to express my deep thanks to those of you who have so faithfully followed, read, and commented. Your words have been water in the desert for me – profound manifestation of the wild beauty I know and love. Thank you.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
As I read this, an analogy occurs to me. I live (as in my physical location is) in what is essentially a desert. Not the upright-cactus-and-sand kind of desert, but the no-trees-for-miles-flat-land-wind-blowing-insanely-and-not-that-much-rainfall-temps-over-100 kind of desert. People from other parts of the country will ask why we stay here. They say it is ugly, windy, flat, hot and barren.
We say, “Maybe so, but you can see for miles. The sunsets are like none other. The storm clouds roll in from far away leaving time for necessary preparations. Their special kind of beauty and awesomeness is visible long before the storm arrives.”
The bliss of beautiful places is nice for awhile, but you can’t see what’s coming at you, only what’s right in front of you. You can’t see what lies ahead, and you can’t always see the light. The desert offers a wide open expanse in which to see so much, if only we step outside, open our eyes and look beyond the gate of our emmaculately manicured front yard.
I have enjoyed your posts.
So beautiful, Angie. Your words. The metaphor. Your physical space. You. Thank you.
And just so you know, though I might wish it so, my front yard is anything but immaculately manicured!
Thank you, Ronna. The journey, while not truly over because it never is over, has been wonderful.
.-= Nicki´s last blog ..Palm Sunday =-.
I’m the grateful one, Nicki – for your constant presence during these days. Thank you.