I’ve always been fascinated by the desert and savanna. Of course, I love the heat. I enjoy the rock formations. The creatures of the desert are especially intriguing. Years ago I went to Palm Desert and visited the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. It is a great place to learn about how life is sustained in a harsh climate. One of the items on my bucket list is to visit Kevin Richardson aka “the lion whisperer” who has a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa. He has worked for many years educating the public on the big cats and helping to preserve them as well as conserve their habitat.
The reading from Deuteronomy on Corpus Christi Sunday reminds us that God guided the Israelites through the “vast and terrible desert” but fed and watered them. But the desert is not just a physical place. We can be in a beautiful home surrounded by friends and family and still feel like we’re in a desert wasteland. The desert is a metaphor for feeling isolated, alone, afraid of the unknown or the predators in our life. The desert experiences of our life cause us to feel parched, lifeless, perhaps even worthless.
Time and time again, God showed his love and mercy to people by guiding them through the desert in order to show them that life is everywhere. We may see the vastness of the wasteland, but God shows us the wildflower breaking through the parched earth. We see frightening animals whereas God shows us how they’ve adapted to live in a harsh climate. We see a lack of food and water, but God teaches us that he can provide the nourishment we need.
It’s a matter of perspective. When you are in the desert times of your life, look for life, look for color, look for nourishment. Let God direct your vision to see his presence. Ask God to give you what you need to be sustained in the desert. Instead of trying to get out of the desert, learn to adapt and live in it. Pray that you can become that wildflower that pops up through the parched earth.
While I may never get to South Africa to see the lions, I do know that God takes care of his creatures and shows them how to adapt. More importantly, God sends people into our lives to assist us in our survival and growth. When we feel like we’re in the vast and terrible desert, ask the Lord to sustain and nourish us so that we can live and have life to the fullest.
