Entering the Wilderness
This week kicks off our Lent series based on Kate Bowler’s book “Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day.” Bowler’s book is one of daily devotionals and prayers that are prescribed for every season, including Lent. In fact, she has written quite a few additional materials specifically for churches like ours who are drawing on her book for Lent. It is aptly named “Have a Beautiful, Terrible Lent.” The idea of wishing someone a terrible anything seems wrong, but I think it captures the realities of life perfectly. Not every day is going to be great, some are downright bad, but that’s ok – that’s a normal part of life. Lent is a time where we can really focus on how beautiful and terrible life can be. It is a balance, and a roller coaster. I’d love to say the roller coaster analogy was original, but it came from a commentary on our Scripture today. Mark’s gospel is the shortest of the four, and this passage is no exception. Jesus goes through high points and low points, and in Mark’s gospel it happens very quickly. Or, as Dr. Lisa Hancock describes it, a roller coaster ride. I think the analogy works well because roller coasters are designed to be scary and disorienting and…fun. Many of us seek out these thrill rides, despite the fact that they may make us dizzy or queasy because we enjoy the movement and the adrenaline rush that comes from flying around a track, twisting and turning. We can enjoy these crazy rides without any true fear because we are confident of how they will end. After a few minutes of speed and twists and turns, we slowly return to solid ground, safe and sound. This Lent season, I want us to focus on the fact that though the cross looms ominous, the empty tomb awaits. Kate Bowler says in one of her Lenten prayers that we play a role in God’s story, that we have glimpsed the end, and it’s glorious. As we go into this season, dealing with the ups and downs of our lives, we can rest assured that Easter is coming. We can move with God, confident that we know how this story, and this roller coaster, ends.
One final note on being a church that is called to move. Have you ever been in an arcade with those “roller coaster experience” rides? You sit in a seat that shakes and rumbles while a fan blows on you, and a screen projects a virtual roller coaster track in front of you. They are amusing, but they aren’t anything like the real thing. I find myself relating to this arcade experience in my spiritual journey, going through the motions but not actually moving. I believe this Lent is a great time to reflect on our journey together and get moving.
If you would like to purchase a copy of Kate Bowler’s “Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day,” contact Kate or visit the church office.
If you are interested in moving alongside us in the Park City community, visit parkcitychurch.org/volunteer.
Click here to watch this week’s sermon.