Last Sunday was the Third Sunday of Lent and the reading told of the story of Moses in the desert. In fact, the 40 days of Lent is really a period of reflection about the desert. The Readings in the Divine Office follow the Book of Exodus, recounting the tale of the People of Israel as they left the familiar place of Egypt to spend 40 years wandering in the desert.Like all the parts of the Scripture, this can be understood on different levels. The heart of the Judeo-Christian belief is one of escape from slavery to freedom. Originally it had a political sense. However, over the centuries since that story was first told, "Egypt" has ceased to be just a country; indeed, the Hebrew word used - "Mitzraim" - means “a narrow place.”
So getting free from Egypt means moving out from the "narrow places" in our lives, the places where we have gotten stuck, to a wider place, a place where we are have greater freedom and greater potential. So often we get stuck in situations that trap us, and prevent us from reaching our full happiness. Or maybe we repeat narrow emotional patterns learnt in early childhood, which limit our view of our own capabilities. So, when difficulties arise, we adopt a narrow or smaller view of ourselves, and see ourselves as weak or insufficient. We can see ourselves as the cause of the problem or as the weak and vulnerable victim. We quickly feel, when something seems wrong, that the source of wrong is me. And in some circumstances this can lead us to settle for less than what we really deserve and we choose situations which match our narrow sense of what we deserve.
It is significant that the core message of the Judeo tradition is that freedom is possible, that we can more into a more expansive spacious place, that we can move towards a fuller fulfilling of our needs. The starting place is to step out into unfamiliar teritory even if the familiar seems safer. Sadly people often prefer the familiarity of troubled relationships, dispiriting jobs or the script of society, rather than taking the risk when it presents itself. It is also hard to face the inner work required to leave the narrow places of our ideas which worked for one part of our life and risk taking on new ideas which will lead to a wider place. It may involve leaving things that once seemed important to become a more integrated, more fulfilled whole.
Each thing has to transform itself into something better,
and acquire a new destiny.
Paulo Coelho
