Prone to Wander

A new devotional for Lent by Joanna Harader

Christmas just happened. I know. It is too soon to even imagine what might come in Lent. There is a whole other wilderness to wander through before we can really imagine what Lent will bring.

But I have a wandering heart that is restless and curious. I want to know what will happen next and I’m so glad for the people that give their hearts to finding words that matter for every season.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Several years ago now, my friend Joanna Harader composed her first book Expecting Emmanuel exploring eight women mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy. I have found company among these women and Joanna’s beautiful storytelling this year which begins with the frank observation that life is really, really messy. We are not perfect and our stories are not perfect but they matter. Your stories matter. Mine matter.

Joanna encourages us in this hope, daring us to believe that, “in the incarnation, that God became human in the person of Jesus, is to believe that humanity matters. It is to take our humanity — and the humanity of others — seriously, to hold it tenderly, to consider it honestly.” These few words evoke to me what I believe spiritual direction to be. It is to make space for each other to discover again and again that God is with us. God is in the tangled mess of our relationships. God is in all of this beloved complexity of life.

It’s why I’m already thinking about Lent. Because I have so loved the gift of wandering through the lives of these women this Advent that I have already pre-ordered my copy of Joanna’s second book Prone to Wander to continue to wonder what it means to find God in this mess of life right now. There are practices to find here and blessings that will expand your hope — and I trust there are as many powerful insights into what it means to find God in the wild mess of the human experience right now. Lucky for me, and for you, Joanna is also a friend and I got to ask her a few questions before this new wonderful book releases.

Wilderness is a familiar and powerful image for Lent. In writing Prone to Wander, what most surprised you about this metaphor for the spiritual journey? 

I was most surprised by how often, in scripture, the wilderness is a positive place. I was expecting wilderness experiences of suffering, pain, disorientation, and struggle. But just as often I found the wilderness to offer grounding, guidance, Presence, and empowerment.

Like Expecting Emmanuel, Prone to Wander will focus on the stories of women, particularly those of Eve, Hagar, Zipporah, Vashti and Mary Magdalene. You hint that there are others that will be explored too. Why is it important to highlight the stories of women right now? 

Honestly, my answer to this question would have been different a month ago. In the wake of the recent U.S. presidential election, I am finding deep comfort–and fierce energy–in reconnecting with the stories of marginalized women. There are strong cultural forces seeking to control women’s bodies and restrict gender expression in a myriad of ways right now. Many of these biblical stories show how women are able to claim agency in oppressive cultural situations. And in these stories–despite how they are often taught–women are not shamed for using their bodies and sexuality for their own empowerment and even pleasure. 

Prone to Wander, like Expecting Emmanuel, is a devotional for people who “like the idea of a devotional, but feel uninspired” by most of the devotionals out there. I chuckled at this from my own frustration with the genre. Are there any devotionals out there that you actually like?

Probably my favorite devotional is not actually a devotional: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. I also appreciate the Pray as You Go daily audio meditations.  

In your gentle suggestions for how to use Expecting Emmanuel, you confess that you often get a little bored in your prayer life. How are you wandering through your prayer life right now? 

My most consistent prayer practice is joining with a few dear friends for morning prayer on Zoom twice a week. I am often tempted to let personal practices fade away, but I will always show up for my prayer group!

I have recently transitioned to a new pastoral role in a new community and I now live close enough to walk to my church. I find that this time of walking (about twelve minutes each way) is a wonderful time for reflection and prayer.

And my writing remains deeply connected to my prayer life. Whether I am writing a devotional, a sermon, or worship liturgies I try to approach my reading of the text and my writing about it with a prayerful spirit.

As a long-time lover of your writing on Spacious Faith, I can’t resist the opportunity to ask for a prayer. Would you share a short blessing with the readers of Prayer Threads?

Be still
and know
that God is God.
No matter how many other people
how many other forces in the world
stomp and yell and insist on their power
God
and only God
is God
and God’s power does not stomp
    or yell
    or insist.
God’s power creates
    and abides
    and blesses.
God’s power blesses you
    this day and each day
with perspective
with courage
with strength.

So do not let your heart be troubled
and do not be afraid,
only receive this blessing:
    the infant held safe by their mother
    the mysterious wonder of Incarnation
    the power of God-with-us.

Joanna’s new book releases on January 7, 2025 and it just might be the most delightful thing to gift yourself in anticipation of the season of Lent. I know I’ll be eagerly awaiting my copy.