Into the wilderness free#

Tayo is a WWII vet who returns to his New Mexico pueblo, ruined by modern existence and war. If you don’t know Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko, you should find this classic. The physical and moral stakes are high in all. As in all great journey literature of the past (think The Odyssey, Alice in Wonderland, Lord of the Rings), the travelers in these books must all navigate landscapes and mindscape through confusion, despair, rage mixed with love, elation and terror in order to live. You’ll notice that many of these books, like mine, center around orphans, widows and widowers, the abandoned, the dazed, the shunned, the outcast, and lots of women folk. But the excellent fictions I’ve listed here were even more helpful to me in how they explored internal wildernesses, mappings of psychic and spiritual paths from Lostness to (some kind of) physical, moral or existential Foundness. I walk alone in remote desert canyons every day now, mountain lions certainly-sometimes looking on from cliffs, bears in Alaska before that when cell phones weren’t a thing. I’ve lived in very wild places for most of my adult life. The real adventure isn’t found in the wilderness experience, but rather the life to which God calls us and for which He prepares us during that time spent in desolate places.These books were, of course, useful to me in thinking more deeply about landscape, the cold-hot-hungry-thirsty smallness-of-self realizations that actual wilderness imposes. I knew some of this already. These are the moments when God’s call comes into focus.

Into the wilderness free#

Giving God our undivided attention in a place free of the tempestuous life we live is vital to understanding Him, and His call on our lives. Sneaking away into the wilderness is more than just an adventure.

However, the turbulence around him took his attention away from Jesus and he began to sink. With his attention entirely on Jesus, Peter indeed walks on water. In Matthew 14, Jesus calls Peter out of the boat to walk on the water. This is how we embrace the abundant life Christ died for us to have – a zealous life of purpose and joy. A clearly understood direction is key to living in humble confidence. However, when we place our focus on God and carefully study the scriptures, our purpose becomes clear. It is tremendously difficult to discern the will and leading of God and impossible to listen when we are not paying attention. Our everyday life is fraught with burdens and distractions that frequently take our eyes off our King. The wilderness has long been a place of preparation and calling. “ But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (Luke 5:16 ESV). Jesus often went to the wilderness to meet with His Father.

The Apostle Paul spent time in the wilderness before he began his powerful ministry (Galatians 1). The Israelites spent time in the wilderness on their journey to the Promised Land and received the laws, festivals, and sacrifices required to be the people of God-all described for us in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

God called Moses from the wilderness and equipped him for the task ahead (Exodus 2-4). Moses spent time in the wilderness before returning to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. I have been doing this since 1992, but God has been calling people to the wilderness for a lot longer than that. The wilderness is a powerful place of distraction-free reprieve and preparation. Into the Wilderness For 26 years God has given me the gift of taking people into the wilderness to deepen their relationship with Him.