We may give the Israelites a hard time for not making it past 40 days, but in our age of instant gratification, who among us can make it 40 minutes simply sitting and waiting to sense God’s movement and presence?

But here’s the thing: as people of faith, we believe that following Christ beckons us into a way of living that prioritizes love — not just of self, but of neighbor, and enemy. We live and act not for ourselves or our own benefit, but for God and the world God made.