Sojourn into the Desert

During this season of the year we read about John the Baptist and his desert experience. We are told that Isaiah prophesied, a voice would cry out in the wilderness asking us to make straight the path to our God (Is. 40:9). I have always thought of the Advent desert as a time of personal preparation: clean out the excess thoughts and grudges, make ready the heart to welcome Divinity in with greater fullness.

But on my walk this morning, as I was thinking of Finals and papers, another thought came to me. I realized that we all have deserts in our lives, times when our efforts seem to produce little fruit, when life seems dry and barren, and success and happiness become nothing but a mirage. Perhaps the Baptist's call to go into the desert is a cry to care for a fellow sojourner whose life has become difficult.

We fill in the valleys and make every mountain and hill low when we help to balance that person's hope. We can help diminish some of that fear and build up some of that confidence. In short, we can give encouragement and understanding. If we do this, the sojourn in the desert may be shortened, and that person will come out a whole person, not one broken and defeated.

There are so many of us who could profit by a bit of understanding. Yes, we may act out our fears and anxiety. But if only one person sits by us, holds our hand and hears our story, we find heart and courage. In that courage we may even find healing and wholeness.

Isn't that what the Christmas story is all about? A story of hope in the midst of a very unfair world. So let us each look for that sojourner in the desert, the one who feels weighed down right now and can use a caring heart. Let us reach out not with our answers, but with a sympathetic ear that listens to their story. Who knows. That may be the one thing that they need at this time.