“Jesus walked this lonesome valley, he had to walk it by himself;
O, nobody else could walk it for him, he had to walk it by himself.”
~Verse 1 of “Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley”

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. Lent has begun—a season where it sometimes feels like we are out in the wilderness with Jesus. You will notice some changes in Lenten worship services. Some years we have “buried our alleluias” physically, and we will certainly feel that practice liturgically. The hymns and choir pieces during this liturgical season are more muted/more serious. We pray a prayer of confession each Sunday. This liturgical year in particular (Year A) includes some long scripture passages from John’s Gospel. Sometimes Lent can feel spiritually heavy and full of meaning. We consider the themes of mortality, forgiveness, repentance, and spiritual renewal.

The images that often come to mind for me as Lent begins is images of the wilderness, the desert, and Jesus walking that lonesome valley. My UCC leadership group would gather in Arizona for continuing education events, and I’ve been lucky to visit Arizona five times with NGLI. Arizona is such a beautiful place. Sedona in particular is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. Though the desert is also an intense landscape, and a landscape that can feel intimidating on some levels.

On one trip, I was chatting with a cab driver on the way to the airport. He asked what I thought of Arizona, and I said it was beautiful and that the landscape is so different from where I grew up and where I now live. I remarked that the desert at night was especially surprising to me—how cold it feels when the sun goes down and how dark certain places would get. He then shared a rousing tale about going scorpion hunting at night with his daughter. They have a special blacklight flashlight they use to find scorpions near their home (scorpions glowing under UV light was news to me!)  This father daughter team takes care of scorpion infestations in the neighborhood.

The desert is a wild place I recall thinking as he told his story.
Who knew people go scorpion hunting to help their neighbors out!?
During Lent here at CFC we will be spiritually out in the wilderness with Jesus.
But no scorpion hunting will be required!

Love,
Pastor Lauren

Photo by Rev. Lauren Ostrout in Carefree, Arizona.

Thursday Thoughts 2/19/26