Perhaps part of the problem is that too often we think spirituality is just about the inner life, when it should be about the way we live our day-to-day lives. I mean, Jesus who went into the desert. But he spent far more time feeding the hungry, tending to the sick, serving the poor, listening to those who needed a friendly ear, comforting those who mourned. And he also said: ‘Come, follow me’. Not into the wilderness, but into the world. To show similar acts of empathy and compassion, such as visiting the housebound to see if they need any shopping doing. Having a cup of tea and a chat with someone who is lonely, perhaps cooking a meal for a single parent who is struggling to cope. You see, the season of Lent is about giving out to others, and not just about giving up a few simple pleasures.
