Today we begin the season of Lent.

It’s a time set in the church’s liturgical calendar to draw near to the Lord through reflective prayer, meditation and fasting.

It’s a time to recognize wilderness.

This season can be something valuable if we allow it.

The life and worship of the church is imbibed with liturgy through and through. This is simply the rhythms and storylines created in order to direct our hearts, minds, and even bodies, toward the things of the kingdom of God.

I speak of rhythms over rituals because many evangelical Christians are scared of the word ritual. But the church has set a rhythmic calendar to bring us through varying seasons and periods of the historic and holistic work of God, all to “set our minds on things above.”

Just as the Israelites, we will come through this season of wilderness. As Christ, we will come through this season of wilderness.

But we will do well to remember this: the land flowing with milk and honey is reached through the wilderness; resurrection life is reached through a cross.

As we prepare for Lent, may we be stirred by this simple video. It displays the beautiful humanity of Jesus, his solidarity with frail humanity, and ends by showing he is the one who overcomes.