Wilderness Wisdom Recap for Ash Wednesday & Lent

No heroics or guilt required.

Just willingness to go into, and as, the wilderness

the way ancient Israelites and Jesus did,

accompanied by the ministry of angels.

Learning to be receptive, unclenched, and open like the wilderness itself.  

Not--as a Scottish bee-keeper, rosary maker, and monastic wisdom lover put it--

to prove your devotion.

"Not beat your body into submission.

Not become spiritually impressive.

Just: make space.Just: return."

Perhaps as a 40 day practice of, say, 5 minutes of opening and softening with each out going breath. Relaxing. Loosening.

Allowing mind and heart to melt. To soften.

Remaining open for intimacy within thy Soul Shelter.

Sharing tenderness.

Divine Beauty breathing you.

With loving kindness and zero self-reproach when noticing the mind wandering

or body tensing,

always beginning again.

Yes, always begin again.

Relaxing into unconditional love, tenderness, and Presence yet again.

Allowing God to reorder us in love.

Then throughout the day returning to that spacious state of mind and heart.

Resting in, with, and as The Vastness.

Practicing The Presence.

Intimacy,

Tenderness.

Compassion.

Deep listening.

With deep bow and love,

Catherine Quehl-Engel