That's desert as in "desolate sandy geography in extremely hot climate," not dessert as in "sweet after-dinner treat." The extra "s" makes all the difference, and people have always confused the two spellings since the days when the alphabet was created.

Seriously, folks, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. But you knew that! So here we go again. What's it all mean?

I think we can get a clue about the reason for this season from the Gospel for the 1st Sunday of Lent: the story of Jesus' temptation in the desert. (See Luke 4:1-13) Have you ever been to a real desert? I'm not talking about a Palm Springs or Las Vegas-style desert resort, with air conditioning, swimming pools and movie stars. I'm talking isolated stretch of sizzling barren wasteland, untouched by civilization: no restaurants, no shops, no running water, no rest rooms! I dare you to get away from it all and live the hermit existence for a few days!

Jesus did it for forty days. Imagine, forty days of unbearable desert heat, with NO FOOD. That's what the Gospel of Luke says. Jesus was "led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry."

Well, no wonder Jesus was tempted by the devil! Under those conditions, I know I would become delusional. I would be hungry not only for food, but for companionship, for comfort, for all those things that give me pleasure. Temptation! Alone in the heat of the desert, all Jesus had to rely on was his strong spirit, and his faith.

If you can't get to a geographic desert in these days of Lent, at least try and journey into your own spiritual desert. LET GO of excessive eating and comfort and pleasures. LET GO of unhealthy relationships and addictions. LET GO of the need to cling to possessions and consumerism. LET GO of easy habits that mask our true genuine selves.

Yeah, you're right. I must be CRAZY to suggest something so drastic. But, hey, Jesus did it, and if we really believe he is our Lord and Friend, then maybe there's something to this Lenten denial thing.

I think a clue to surviving the desert of Lent lies in a key sentence in the beginning of the Gospel story: "[Jesus] was LED BY THE SPIRIT into the desert . . ." The Holy Spirit was with Jesus the whole time! That's how he survived, and that's how we will be able to endure Lent. Left to our own devices, we probably wouldn't last one hour in the desolate wilderness. But if we are truly open to the Holy Spirit during Lent, we will discover something about ourselves during this time of self-denial. We'll discover that our reason for living lies in living for God.

Tall order? Impossible? Find out for yourself. This Lent, go to the desert — the desert of self-denial. When you get down to the basics and discover your true genuine self, chances are you will also discover that God was with you the whole time.