Ash Wednesday

Forty days alone, 
a wilderness of thoughts, 
tempting and inviting thoughts, 
which could so easily have distracted you 
from your task, your mission,
your vision.
Yet you emerged, stronger and more attuned 
to all that had to be done, 
despite a time constraint 
that to our eyes would have seemed hopeless.
We too live in stressful times. 
Demands are made of our time, 
that leave so little 
for the important things of life. 
We are easily distracted 
in the wilderness of our lives, 
by every call to go this way or that,
to turn stone to bread 
leap from mountains, 
and do all that would keep us from the truth.
We listen to the voices of this world, 
and ignore the one who endured all this 
and so much more, 
and emerged triumphant, 
that we might not have to suffer so.
Forgive us, Father, 
when we get distracted from our task. 
Forgive us those times when we try 
to be all things to all men, 
and fail to be anything to anyone