Wilderness Way, Lent 2013

Welcome to the Wilderness Way Community’s 40-day “Wilderness Meditation Practice” group! Wilderness Way is journeying through the season of Lent with a common spiritual practice this year, and we are delighted to have you join us!

This Lenten season our spiritual practice is…

Every day for 40 days, we are spending 10-20 minutes OUTSIDE

in prayer/meditation/just being (rain or shine)!

Our practice begins February 13 (Ash Wednesday), and extends through March 24 (Palm Sunday).

Why are we doing this?  

The season of Lent recalls the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness.  We often hear about the temptations he faced, but rarely do we wonder about his experience the rest of the time.  How did he communicate with the divine?  …with the elements? …with the other living beings in the wilderness?  Is this where he learned to "pay attention to the birds of the air" and what they can teach us? What might we learn if we did what Jesus did, even in a small way?

As a culture, our connection to our sacred life support system of the earth is severely impaired.  This is having catastrophic impacts.  One of Wilderness Way’s core values is re-establishing connection and relationship with the sacred universe and earth of which we are a part.  Where better to do that than outside?

As our spiritual ancestor, Martin Luther, put it, “God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.”

If you are joining us on this “outdoor” Lenten journey, we invite you to LET US KNOW here, and share any reflections you have on your experience. Check back in with the group regularly to hear what others have to say as well! We are excited and very curious about what impact it could have for a whole bunch of us to spend some time each day for 40 days in Lent just BEING outside and re-connecting with the sacred life/”gospel” of the earth!

As a community we brainstormed a bunch of ideas for how we might engage our 10-20 minutes outside (since none of us have done this before)! They are posted in the document below, entitled "Suggestions for Meditating Outside."  If you have other suggestions from your own experience along the way, please share them with the group!  We are all learning!

If you are new to Soul Cafe, simply click "register" in the upper right box and follow the instructions.  The group is open to everyone.  (Note: your email will never be made public and you won't get on anyone's list...unless you want to be on Wilderness Way's email list, of course. ;)  

Thanks for joining us on this Lenten adventure!  

If you’re curious to learn more about Wilderness Way, you can check out our website: www.wildernesswaypdx.org.