Have you ever wondered why Jesus went into the wilderness? Some believe it was to reveal his divinity or to restore humanity's relationship with God. In Wilderness Within, Sr. Josephine Garrett, a mental health counselor and popular speaker, reflects on the belief that Jesus went into the wilderness to rescue us--to rescue us! The Lord does not want us to view the wilderness as something that causes worry, anxiety, or fear. "What if, instead," Sr. Josephine writes, "we looked at how God has been a faithful provider in the wilderness and trusted that He will do the same for us in the wilderness journey ahead? What if we joyfully take His hand and journey into the wilderness, because when Christ enters there, 'this opposite place of the garden becomes the place of reconciliation and healing'" (Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth)? In Wilderness Within, Sr. Josephine will guide you through the forty days of Lent to attend to the wilderness of your heart as a place to be explored, restored, and sent on mission by Jesus's tender love. Week of Ash Wednesday: Enter Lent by recognizing your ability to always begin anew in Christ. Week One: Open your heart to God's love, allowing yourself to reverence your heart as a gift from your Creator. Week Two: Reflect on the truth that we are created for relationships, and examine the relationships in your life. Week Three: Take an honest look at your limitations, wounds, and sin guided by a spirit of humility and repentance. Week Four: Begin to see how God designed your heart to be rescued by him and grow in your capacity to be healed by him. Week Five: Leave the wilderness of your heart so that you can go on mission--with a heart restored by Christ's love--to love your neighbor and be a good steward of the gifts and charisms given to you. Holy Week: Follow in Jesus's footsteps to the Cross and discover how you can love him well through each stage of the Passion and Resurrection. Each day's content includes brief meditations, specially crafted illustrations, thought-provoking reflection questions, heartfelt prayers curated to uplift your spirit, and ample journaling space for personal revelations and insights. Whether you're journeying alone or with a group, Wilderness Within is your guide to a beautiful and renewing Lent. Free companion videos featuring Sr. Josephine and a free downloadable leader's guide are available at avemariapress.com. Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, is a sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth, a licensed counselor, host of the Hope Stories podcast, and a Catholic speaker and author. Garrett earned a bachelor's degree in political philosophy from the University of Dallas. Prior to entering religious life, she worked as vice president in the home loans division of Bank of America. In 2019, she earned a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and became a nationally certified counselor licensed in Texas. She worked as a school counselor in Tyler, Texas, and is presently serving as a counselor in private practice. Garret is a voice for mental health on various platforms such as Formed and Hallow. She resides in Tyler, Texas. June Jameson is an independent artist who creates large oils on canvases for galleries, churches, hospitals, and private collections. Jameson has developed a unique style that blends her strong Catholic faith with her impressionist paintings. Jameson earned her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Florida. Many of her original paintings are represented by the Sacred Art Gallery in Arizona and several of her images are available to license for liturgical use through the Diocesan Library of Art. Jameson lives in Ocala, Florida with her husband and nine children. Prints of her work can be found at junejameson.com.
