Wilderness in Our Lives - Mark 1

Wilderness in Our Lives

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Sermon based upon Mark 1:12-13, Psalm 25, 1 Peter 3:18-22

Today, we are reminded that even Jesus experienced wilderness – with wild beasts and temptations/tests. Mark’s short description of this experience, this wilderness, seems to indicate a hostile environment full of threats. 

For us here in this day, I think we can relate with our experience in this pandemic as something of a wilderness as well.  Since early last year, we have had to change the way we do things, how we do things, and even how we meet each other with threat of virus.  That has been even more challenging because some did not make it through this.  

Our wilderness continues, and I sense fatigue rising. I hear it in the stories.  For years, we will be telling them.  

For one particular story, Bret and I, with another couple (that we knew were following good health practices), decided to get away where we could be socially distant (and hopefully do something fun).  So, we went north into Minnesota to yet another wilderness to observe the northern lights. 

I really had no idea what to expect. So when we got to about the Twin Cities, we started seeing weather reports about incoming snow – oh great. Let’s keep going! We kept going to our ultimate destination of a rural, remote cabin near Lutsen, MN. As we drove and got closer, we came upon the giant Lake Superior, low mountains and tall birch trees. I thought in my head, “I have seen movies that started like this.”  These wood spires were guarding each side of the two lane road with the occasional cabin and path dotting the area.  I was sure we should see a sasquatch, bears, mountain lions, or even something creepy soon!

We finally arrive at the cabin and were getting settled. I had to go around and just look at all of the area around us. There was Lake Superior in front of us and mountain and forest all around us with this bubbling creek rolling along the backside of the property. (You have seen some pictures from that space in the slides.)  We got settled and eventually evening arrived.  

We decided that despite the cool weather we would try to sit out by the firepit out back.  So we sat, talked and fussed about how to build a camp fire   At some point, some light snow started, and we looked up to see the sky splitting with shrinking clouds revealing a beautiful and dazzling array of stars set against a beautiful black sky. The kind of stars you could almost reach out and grab – more beautiful and sparkling than precious diamonds. 

For myself, I resisted the desire to take pictures but instead to just be in the moment – and prayed a moment of thanks for this beautiful display. We all just sat in utter awe for few more hours and relished the moment in front of us – regardless of snow and cold. 

Whether we experience wilderness at a cabin, a tent, a desert, a pandemic, an exam, a test or wrestle with the many challenges that we face in our lives, we simply cannot avoid them as much as we might like. 

Sometimes, things happen for which we have no control, and they may come to us, like pandemics. 

In fact, when we think of wilderness and the point of the story, we should not immediately jump to conclusion this is always a hostile place or even a physical place. These are moments when we are tested, when we struggle, and when we discover.  The question is what do we do in these moments - do we shy away or meet the struggle? Do we accept that God made us perfectly the way we are? 

Just like Jesus being tested in the wilderness, for us, they can be tests to help us focus or opportunities to learn about ourselves and how beautiful the world can be. Wilderness gives us a place to focus and discover who we are and our relationships – find our roots in our Creator. 

First, remember we are not alone. Angels waited for Jesus, and they wait for us. 

In the midst of pandemic and cold wilderness, I remembered meditation and prayer and maybe an angel pulled the clouds aside so we could see the gorgeous sky. I think that together, our little group discovered new beauty, peace and possibilities in that moment. What about you and your wilderness?

One might say, our whole life is a wilderness because our world has all kinds of threats and destruction around us. From the moment we are waken to the moment we are taken, we are tested and we struggle. 

Where are the possibilities and how do we get closer to God? Remember the rainbow covenant that God gave to Noah - that God’s love is bigger and more than anything.  We read in 1 Peter 3:18, “Christ also suffered for sins for all, the righteous and the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. Jesus was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.”  

Jesus did this for us. Do we have faith in Jesus in this offering? Do we invite God into our wilderness with us or do we think we can do this alone?  Consider, Jesus went into the wilderness where there were hostile threats – “wild beasts” and evils. I love one observation noted here as the Lamb being with the Lion and angels came. 

Despite threats and destruction, Jesus is still there – remaking creation for you and I individually, but also for us communally and as a Church. We are reminded that the Scriptures (especially the Psalms) offers us mutual experiences (whether praise, joy, sadness, regret to grief in loss). Jesus gives a path in the midst of hostile, cold wildernesses or daily struggle. Jesus shows us beautiful stars at night, helps one find composure on the golf course, gives us calm when fishing on the lake, strength to finish a school exam, and gives us peace to persevere

In these moments, we discover who we are and who we are meant to be – we discover where our heart is - where our treasure is. In these moments, we learn how much God is helping us when we listen to the still speaking Spirit.  In these moments, we acknowledge where we have been and build our potential by leaning into the One. 

For our traveling cadre, we never got to see the aurora borealis, but we did get the experience of seeing quiet majesty and feeling warmth of peace in that moment. Consider also that we have been tested and struggled together – together (as I not alone) - in this pandemic wilderness and we will rise from its wake, hopefully taking with us the lessons we have learned working God's justice in this world. For each of us here at St John this Lent, let us experience the majesty of Jesus in your wilderness as we get closer to God. In your wilderness wherever you are on life’s journey, be not afraid, pray from your heart, look up and find Jesus, the Lamb, sitting with you - quieting the “beasts.”

Thanks be to God.