June and I developed the reading program we’re using now – one chapter/day, five days/week, for five years – and this is our first year to go through the Poetry (or Wisdom) section. One chapter/day of Job can be tough going, especially if it’s dialog by one of the three “friends” espousing their Santa Claus Theology. So with the Lenten Season upon us and Job continuing through the week after Easter, I am supplementing my reading with the Gospel of Mark. Not even a chapter a day – maybe two chapters/week.

With this as the Second Sunday in Lent, Mark’s VERY succinct summary of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness seems appropriate. Coming right after “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased,” comes this:

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. (Mark 1.12, 13, ESV)

• 40 days in the wilderness (driven by the Spirit)
• Tempted by Satan
• With the wild animals
• Being ministered to by angels

Wow. Doesn’t take long to write; does take 40 days to live through…

As of today, I am just over 8 weeks (58 days!) into my prostate ordeal. It definitely feels like the wilderness. There is temptation to be discouraged. My dog isn’t a wild animal, and he has been a great comfort. My “emotional support animal.” I don’t know if Jesus’ wild animals were friends or foes. I do know that my angel June, essentially healed on January 15, two days before my stuff started, has been ministering to me.

And we’ll get through it, and this time next year or five years from now, the whole trial from June’s fall on December 7 until resolution will be a couple of sentences.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. (2 Corinthians 1.8 – 12, ESV)