The theme of our Lenten sermon series this year was "Falling Upward." Each sermon reflects on how some seasons of life can leave us feeling like we're wandering through the wilderness. It can feel harsh and barren. We wonder how we'll make it through. We wonder where God is--or perhaps question whether God is there at all. Sometimes, our world falls apart.

Our faith tradition doesn't pretend life will never be hard; rather, it humbly acknowledges this as a given. But, it also tells us that brokenness, shame and death do not have the last word: Healing, Love and Life do. There is no shortcut to experiencing this truth in our own lives, however. The only way out of the wilderness is to go through it.