ADVENT AND WILDERNESS.
The presence of wilderness is present on many occasions throughout scripture. The wilderness experience runs deep with the people of God as scripture describes the journey of the people of Israel through the desert to the Promised Land. In Australia we are fighting to preserve what we describe as wilderness, both rugged mountain ranges with their rivers and foliage, and the vast open spaces of wilderness deserts. Today we increasingly recognize the importance of wilderness as spiritual space as well as a place of sustenance and renewal in our rapidly expanding urban environment. As I travel into the outback of this land I reflect on how for over 60000 years the indigenous people roamed and lived without all the modern comforts of today. At night sitting under the stars with a glass of Port in one hand, the majesty and awe of the Milky Way reminds me of the beauty of the creation stories in Genesis and the mystery of life itself.
In the wilderness we are able to take stock, reflect and refuel ourselves on many fronts. I find it restores my soul, cynicism and disillusionment with many aspects of contemporary society and restores my hope.
What place does wilderness have in your life? Are you able to find a wilderness time and space for your own reflection and preparations at this busy time of the year? Are you able to find the time to prepare the way of the Lord? Yes we are all fragile and less than perfect but also have the capacity for others to see good in our lives and the possibility of the new heaven and earth. The wilderness can provide the space and the occasion for this experience.
Finally I have left a small Advent booklet from Anglican Overseas Aid that I encourage you to use this Advent for personal refection and study.
Shalom
Ray