Someone left a shopping trolley by my back gate the other day. And for some reason I found it very annoying. In the scheme of life this is a little thing, but for some reason it propelled me to spiral into the day and nothing seemed quite right. Looking back the day offered only the normal irritations, but they had taken on a new significance – I felt that the whole universe was slighting me! If the conditions are right, it doesn’t take much to allow the spirit of desolation to take hold.
We all have the experience of small daily upsets in our inside and outside worlds. The bus that leaves just as we arrive at the stop; the snippy email from a colleague that arrives just as we are about to leave for the day; the driver who cuts us off. Then there is the cross word spoken in a moment of haste that clouds the day. Perhaps the feeling of regret that follows on from a clumsy action or the hurt of a careless word from another that seems to settle in the heart. The myriad of little things – the non-replaced toilet roll, the carton of milk left in the fridge with just a dribble remaining, the cup that can’t move from the bench to the dishwasher … the list goes on.
Ron Rolheiser, a contemporary spirituality writer, in a 2004 article ‘Irritations and the Spiritual life” provides the insight that these irritations usually “don’t reflect upon what’s important in life, character, values, love, or overall graciousness and meaning, but they make us lose perspective”. A daily tug between consolation and desolation, perhaps.
And I can’t help but wonder if this is a little reminder of this week’s Lenten task. When we listen to this week’s Gospel we may be reminded of times when we have felt this sense of sliding into negativity. This temptation to see the downside of life and to take a dim view of the human condition. To allow a meanness of spirit to creep into our daily activities. When Jesus was tempted he drew upon the Word of God underlying his profound relationship with God. And not just once, but three times. This is not to underestimate the pain and suffering that we sometimes experience during our desert times. There are times when we do really feel as though the goodness has been drained from us. We feel lost and alone.
But perhaps this reading is reminding us of the importance of prayer. A little reminder that prayer is the upholder of life. That we can draw upon ancient wisdom to help us navigate our way back to hope – and to our God. And as we listen to the inner movement of our heart, if it is drawing us toward desolation a little reminder that we are not alone. As a friend reminded me recently there may be a devil in the wilderness but the angels also come to uphold and guide us. So may our spirits be met with angels this week as we pray with Jesus in the wilderness of life.
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Claire says:
Like you, Cathy, I was annoyed by abandoned trolleys and would ‘Tut tutt’ furiously. Then one day I realised that though I could transport groceries and other household goods in my car there were people who did not have that luxury and had no choice but to push the heavy trolley to somewhere near their place of abode. So much to be grateful for, and a dollop of guilt for all my ingratitude.