...a word from Kathy

Faros Armenistis, Mykonos Greece T he 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness are a large part of the Easter story.  But if you’re like me, you may prefer to gloss over this part of the story and get to the happy ending.  However, the rush to the end of the story, the happy ending, may rob us of a life-renewing experience. My husband and I spent a large portion of our lives in the vast lands of Texas.  It was where I learned about the big sky, seeing complete horizons surrounding you.  In my nonprofit work, I spent a few hot days on south Texas ranches and in cattle barns.  One thing similar to all was the dust, the blowing winds of heat, the harshness, the unrelenting sun.  This is as close as I’ve come to experiencing wilderness.  And it’s a far cry from living 40 days and 40 nights in such a place.  And this picture I paint, does not show you my fully loaded, air-conditioned Suburban (if you live in Texas, you must drive a Suburban or so I learne...

I t is approximately five weeks before Easter Sunday and I'm beginning to think about our plans.  The who, what and where of Easter weekend is important, isn't it? What are my preparations? Am I preparing at all?  Do Easter baskets, and new Easter outfits count as preparations or perhaps lunch with the family on Easter Day?   Honestly, it seems that once again my thoughts are up side down.  This is not a season of bunnies, candy, and dying eggs but one of remembering, reflecting, and preparing for a deeper Easter experience. An experience of preparation .  Just before Jesus was led into forty days in the wilderness:  ...John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:  “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘ Prepare the way for the Lord ,  make straight paths for him .’  I wonder in these pre-Easter days; wha...