Lent calls us to our own interior desert -- that place within us were we can turn off the noise and shout out the fears and tensions of our lives.

It is only in such stillness that we can realize the many manifestations of God's love in our midst, a love that is difficult to see in all the distractions demanding our attention and hard to hear in all the noise blaring at us. 

Lent cllas us to rediscover, in the stillness of our souls, what it means to be a person of faith, what values we want our lives to stand for, what path we want our lives to take on our own journey to Easter resurrection.

The challenge for all of us is to become more human.  Jesus calls us in this Lent to begin the business of being human afresh.  In the interior desert we have very little to support us so we are changed and realize how much God does for us every day of our lives.  All is truly a gift. 

As we prepare for our Lenten confession, remember we do not confess to stir up feelings of guilt. We go not to plead for forgiveness from God.  We go to thank Him for His forgiveness.  When God forgives, He is not changing His mind about us. He is changing our minds about Him.