Rereading my Bible this morning, Mark 1:9-13 I am struck by the dramatically tortured beginning Jesus endured. He was baptized by John, a spiritual high. Then he was "driven out into the wilderness" by the Spirit to be tortured and tested and tempted by the Adversary (Satan). This was like being trapped in a manic depressive cycle for 40 days, the wilderness being the torture of depression only worse. We don't know what the Adversary tempted him with, but if I think of my worst temptations, I am sure he was beset by images, appetites, greed, and narcissism for 40 days.
He emerged victorious, confirmed as to what he had to do for the rest of his life, and began without a pause. He ran into some fishermen and said, "Come follow me."
I admire that single-mindedness. I want to be like Jesus.
I feel like I have come out of a more than 40 year wilderness of being a slave to my appetites, greed and narcissism. I have snapped out of the groove I chose to willingly go into His groove for me. I have stopped shopping. I am giving all the money I make to my husband for wise stewardship. I rarely spend the money he keeps putting in my wallet.
My purpose in life is not to spend money. My purpose is to do what the Lord calls me to do: love Him, love and respect my husband, go to work to serve others, spend time with my grandchildren, and write as part of His succession planning "plan" for me.
Period. That's it.
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