As "a place of dependent, disciplined, purifying solitude where God must be trusted," the wilderness is a place that sharply contrasts the "concrete jungle" that I live in today. To the conventional eye, New York City is an oasis exploding with every means to satisfy the wants and needs of each person who steps foot on that island. It is the epitome of commercialism and materialism. And life in the concrete jungle couldn’t be better. It is, however, but a mirage. It actually doesn’t take that much to open their eyes to this truth. Some good questions and deep conversations about their lives and they’re quick to admit to the chaos in their homes, the shallowness of their relationships, but ultimately, the barrenness of their own souls. Though we all live in the jungle, we are in fact, smack dab in the middle of the wilderness. And many of us have absolutely no idea that this is exactly where we need to be in order to regain our perspective of life, faith, and God. It is way too easy for a shepherd to get lost in this jungle as well. It’s not necessarily the materialism that gets us. It’s the cynicism and skepticism that creeps into our souls from the pains and struggles of leading a flock in such a place as well as our own personal failures. Without intentionally seeking and engaging the Shepherd of our soul in our own wilderness, it will be very difficult for us to lead a flock of this concrete pasture.