Engagement Questions:

• The desert/ wilderness experience takes a different shape for everyone. Reflecting on your life what did or does your wilderness shape look like or consist of?

• God leads ancient Israel into the wilderness to have her full attention. The wilderness where there are no distractions, no deflecting, no pretending, no masking. Alluring her into the wilderness to speak tenderly, not abusively, to love not condemn, to heal not harm. As you contemplate this imagery what surfaces? Is this the way you see God or have experienced God?

• What can the desert mothers and fathers of the 4th and 5th centuries teach us today?