Frank Lloyd Wright tells the story of going for a walk across a snow covered field with his no-nonsense uncle.

As they reached the far end of

the field they looked back to see the tracks they had left.

The uncle pointed out how Frank&8217;s tracks meandered all over the field from the fence, to the cattle, to the woods and back again, while his tracks were straight and true aimed directly toward the goal.

Years later as he looked back on this event Frank vowed to not miss the things in life that his uncle missed.

Frank learned that day it was easy to let the demands of life keep us from the joys of living.

The same is true for us as we travel through the time of Lent.

Lent is a journey that leads us through the wilderness, struggles, toward the cross and then eventually to the empty tomb.

The problem is that often times we get so focused on the end that we miss the journey.

As we prepare for Lent (which begins in two weeks, March 1) let&8217;s remember that we need to stop along the journey and meander through the field God has given us.

We need to explore the various aspects of what God is calling us to do through this Lenten season.

This is time for exploration of God&8217;s call on your life, a time to reflect and thank God for the ministries of our church, but most important it is an opportunity for us to spend time preparing our hearts for the journey which does lead to Jerusalem, to the cross, but ends in the victory of the resurrection and the empty tomb.

Meander through Lent and explore God&8217;s field of dreams and possibilities.

Reverend Marvin McCormick serves as associate pastor of Helena United Methodist Church. He can be reached by e-mail at mailto:mmccormick@helenaumc.org