Redemptive Choices in the Wilderness

Redemptive Choices in the Wilderness
Lent 1; Matthew 4:1-11
The Spirit leads us to the wilderness
when worldly thoughtless ways hold us in thrall.
Temptation and privation curse or bless.
We stumble from our sleep at wake-up call.

It may be failure that will make us search
to redefine the bounds of who we are.
The wrong success can knock us from our perch –
the ladder slippery and the climb too far.

Sometimes when we have landed on the rocks,
we find our self-dazed vision graced by stars.
When we refuse to heed the voice that mocks,
some key we always held unlocks our bars.

We smell the bracing scent of desert sage
that clears the mind of money-making smog.
We turn to wisdom from a sacred page,
respect the nature of each stone and log.

Things aren’t made solely for our kind to use -
they’re part of Earth’s design in their own right.
Each fallen tree small animals can choose
to hide them from the soaring raptor’s sight.

Let songs of Earth stir music in our soul:
we’ll treasure every leaf and fragile flower.
We’ll glimpse in harshest lands a living whole,
eternity made present in each hour.

Then hunger sets aside temptation’s meals,
and loneliness need not attract false praise,
we’d rather know how being helpless feels
than choose the power the evil one displays.

Then false Satanic promises are left
to wither on the desert’s burning sand.
The tempter leaves, of this wise prey bereft,
and angels wait on one who makes a stand.
	Barbara Messner 18/02/2026