| DESERT TRAIL A Trail of Enlightenment, Encouragement and Illumination Latest edition February 2, 2009  Welcome, Hiker, to the Desert Trail ! You're about to embark on a unique journey into the deserts of the American southwest. Within these vast, spiritually captivating, rugged areas of sand, rocks and ravines, you will have the opportunity to draw a privileged nourishment from the things which God has so wonderfully made. This particular nourishment can serve to greatly increase your understanding of God, as well as that of yourself... Each of us are given certain abilities and special purpose in life that we might, as individuals and together, accomplish Gods' will for us. We also as God's creatures share in an equally important common purpose. The quality time you're about to spend on the Desert Trail may indeed serve to enlighten you in the relevant knowledge and comprehension of these things... We will be taking several day hikes (perhaps a few nighttime ones as well) into this unequaled desert country, and we're most excited that you've chosen to hike this particular Trail of Truth along with us.— All you have to do is put your Bible, perhaps a notepad, an adequate supply of drinking water and a few snacks into your daypack, then choose a good hiking stick and you will be all geared up and ready to go! Oh, yes—you'll need your mental camera as well. — Ready?— Let's do it... ¤ Into Death Valley ¤ Listening to the Wind ¤ Desert Prayer ¤ Oasis of Patience ¤ Canyon of the Crescent Moon ¤ Ask the Animals ¤ Black Eagle Discovery
And they did not thirst when He led them through the deserts. He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them. He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out (Isaiah 48:21 NKJV). Death Valley in California, perhaps at the bottom of a sea in the pre-flood world, is a notably vast formation of hills and buttes—an extremely picturesque mixture of multicolored sand, mud, clay and rocks. Water-carved arroyos and boulder strewn washes abound throughout this region and hiking among them and through them is quite impressive, to say the least. About 60 miles wide and over 125 miles in length, Death Valley is still another true monument to God's creativity in the power of receding waters during the Great Flood of Noah. It is now however a very dry, still (quiet), restful place. It is a medicinal location to set up camp under the stars or to leisurely dwell in during the day. I have been fortunate enough to have spent many rewardingly quiet times within its tranquil borders. Quietness is indeed a good thing. The Bible teaches us; in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15 NKJV). Unfortunately, unending noise, most of it man made, pollutes life on our planet. Mankind rushes on not knowing their end, but when death comes there is truly nothing we can take with us save silence. The noise and futility of this life are left behind. Why not choose then to learn the value of living life here and now amidst quietness? Not externally of course, for that would be nearly impossible—unless you lived in a remote section of this desert. I am talking here about inner quietness. Inner peace is developed through a learning process of trusting in God. It's something you just can't accomplish on your own. It is a reserved quietness, not tuned in to the world's noise. It is a result of knowing that God is in control—of accepting that life-giving fact within your heart and within your mind and within your spirit. He made all things, including you. There's great peace in that, for if He formed you, He will indeed care for you. Lord, my heart is not proud. My eyes are not haughty. I do not concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me. But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me (Psalm 131 NKJV). Inner peace, like all sound Biblical teachings regarding the principles of understanding, is developed through a timely learning process. It is the utopia in mind and body control. No manmade meditation practice can ever achieve it. You don't need to stand on your head in thought, nor contort your body through some man-inspired ritual, nor do you need to be an expert in Kung fu to obtain it. Inner peace comes only from a focus on God and a trust in God. If you will, notice that the psalmist wrote that he had stilled and quieted himself. He had learned through experience not to be proud or self satisfied. His eyes were not haughty or arrogant or self-magnifying. He had become as a small child within his thinking, and he emphasized that. His focus and trust was in God (Psalm 131:3). Yes, he certainly had to find a resting place for the turmoil and cares of this life, both past and present, as well as find a refuge for the natural frustration of spirit encountered in achieving that particular quietness. His trust then could have only been in God and not in himself, nor in human wisdom or philosophy. Only unwavering faith and trust in God, with patience, will develop that type of peace and quietness within. Contrary to the theories of modern psychology, there is, in pure reality, just no other way to go about it. The Bible teaches that the peace of God passes human understanding. We can obtain it if we are willing. Trust in God is the only attitude that can permanently conquer life's problems and difficulties. A God-centered attitude has power over all things. You may have never been to Death Valley. There are many other similarly remote and quiet places all over the earth. Yet, if you have developed the quietness within which the psalmist speaks of, you could probably sit down in the median of a freeway during rush hour and be at peace. I wouldn't recommend that, but it is possible. Personally, I still prefer the external silence of the desert, the mountains, within a forest or down beside a quiet stream. These particular areas of God's creation 'speak' of His peace. You might first take notice as to the silence of the rocks or the trees or the plants nearby as you wander about in these remote places. Believe me, if they could speak out in your language, they could teach you many things about God and inner quietness (Job 12:7-10). Death Valley is indeed one of those places where nature becomes your teacher. The quietness there is unique and may have something to do with the area's relation to sea level. It is the lowest point of land in the United States. The Biblical book of Job teaches us in numerous passages that the creation itself trusts in God. That is why it is so quiet and peaceful within—following the natural order of life on the earth, remaining in subjection to its Creator. The creation itself knows that God is in control and will one day restore all things—including external peace (Romans 8:18-24). Learning more about the things that God has made, as well as the distinct peace He has endowed them with, can help you to trust in Him and to become at peace within yourself. You can become 'one with the earth' so to speak. Again, you cannot rely on the teachings of men to still your soul, unless they are founded upon the Word of God. Allow me to share with you a 'tutoring' on inner peace from Death Valley, an area created for our inspiration by God during the Great Flood. The terrain in Death Valley is indeed rough; much like the turmoil and frustration that goes with living in this world and much like who we are inside, yet the area itself we find to be still and peaceful. It has been quieted by time since the upheaval of the Great Flood, some 5000 years ago. An ancient waterbed, Death Valley is full of collectable rocks of all sizes, shapes and colors—indeed a rock hunter's paradise. Nowadays you're not supposed to remove them; just permitted to look at them. There are hundreds of impressive water-laid canyons here. Due to the natural environment of the area nearly 1000 species of plants flourish within its borders. To date there are at least twenty-one or more different species of plants that are found nowhere else in the world. The valley is also home to many varieties of marsh grass. There are spectacular spring wildflower displays. There are numerous species of reptiles, birds and animals. Once while journeying there, being occupied in a leisurely ascent of a multicolored rock butte, I was allowed the sudden honor of observing a most handsome and interesting desert specimen—a coyote. As I rounded an outcropping of rock, I spotted him on the narrow ridge just ahead of me. The rarely hiked and washed out trail that I was on bore a weathered posting at its trailhead—'Hike or Die.' I had made the right choice—I kept on moving forward in the desert heat. He saw me immediately and stopped in his track to investigate my intrusion into his domain. I felt 'at one' with him for a moment—we were both alone in a remote area of exceptional inspiration. He took a few steps away from me, then stopped and turned his head back to observe me once again. He then gracefully moved his body around, facing me head-on. He was indeed very healthy looking for a desert coyote. His hair was coarse and colorful and his size well above average. He stood so majestically there, an air of gentle boldness about him. I was of course quite thrilled by his presence—actually, beyond measure. I instinctively said, "Hello," to him. He perked up his ears and continued to watch me. I wasn't sure that he'd ever had the English language spoken at him before. I then climbed on around toward the ridge approaching him, just below his perch, and continued on my journey, stepping down on a somewhat lower outcrop of red rock and passing by just underneath him. I could have reached up and nearly touched him. He kept watch on me for a short period as I did on him, then he turned and moved on, crossing a sloped expanse of red rock, bound in another direction from me. He came to a dead stop once on his journey and looked back, as if to say, "Farewell—watch yourself out here, man—snakes about." He continued on after that and I soon lost sight of him among the rocks. I called out to him, but he did not come into my view again. He had appeared the whole time that I was allowed the honor of His presence to be very untroubled, not at all apprehensive like most coyotes I have come in contact with in the wilderness. Perhaps it is Death Valley itself that inspired the behavior of this particular coyote. The valley is indeed quite captivating in nature, breathtakingly still, full of some of God's finest artwork; beyond any shadow of doubt a most adequate tutor on spiritual nourishment. You can actually take a deep breath and smell the strength of the enriching quietness in this place. Realms of quietness have distinct scents of their own—did you know that? The Apache Indians teach us that stillness is an unequalled pleasure. This is of course all God's doing. You can develop the very same quietness and stillness within yourself; an inner peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:6,7). It is a process of training your attitudes and your senses in learning to rightly appreciate God's wonders—a process of giving 'thanks' as you learn to trust Him in and for your daily walk, carrying those wonders along with you in your heart and mind. The psalmist well understood this concept. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul... (Psalm 23:1-3 NKJV).
Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him? (Mark 4:41) Hello, from the vast and beautiful Arizona desert. I've been allowed to travel around the West for several years now, working at various campgrounds, doing some writing, teaching and hiking amidst breathtaking, God-sculptured scenery, while at the same time experiencing many extremely valuable lessons that God has so graciously taught me along the way. However, there have been some times when I wasn't quite sure where I was going spiritually. You know how we are sometimes not sure about things in our mind, traveling that road of human uncertainty? I was once told by an American Indian (Sioux) that when I am walking with uncertainty, I need to stop and "listen to the wind." There was a time when I would have thought that he meant that I should just blow on out and away from wherever I was and whatever I was thinking and forget about uncertainty. But we do fear change, unfamiliar circumstances, new beginnings, don't we? And, most of us are not use to listening to the trees or talking to the sand to get answers. There are indeed many who think that this particular type of advice is strange—to listen to the wind. Yet, true Christians are supposed to be born of the Spirit (John 3:5). Jesus himself describes one born of the Spirit in John 3, verse 8: Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so it is with those who are born of the Spirit (NKJV). It is true; we cannot physically pinpoint the Spirit of God. We cannot tell where it comes from nor can we determine where it goes. But, we can hear it. Like the wind, His spirit moves over the deserts and plains, over the fields, the mountains and the waters. We can see its affect in nature and on the environment. It can also speak to us within our hearts, within our inner man (or woman), in unserchable ways (1st Corinthians 2:10-16). If we are listening with our hearts and become obedient to His Spirit, we can see its affect on our lives as well. This particular Arizona desert region we are hiking along the Colorado River is surrounded by lofty, pointed buttes. It is full of numerous canyons and colorful hills. There are sandy, rock-strewn washes containing many varieties of desert brush. It is obviously an area blessed with a medley of winds. Winds carry the seeds from existing plants to produce even more plants, allowing the desert to become a lush wilderness. These winds can be soft and gentle, gusty and strong, relentless in nature, and are always unpredictable with their sudden changes in direction. They also speak. They speak of the ancient Flood and of its diverse marks on the land. They encircle the mountains among these craggy peaks, boastfully threatening them with their demonstration of immeasurable, usurping power. They reshape the hills, seed the ground and carve the dunes. They whisper the dramatic stories of ancient patriarchs who dwelled in similar topography. They tell of warriors and shepherds, of kings and queens, of princes and nomads, of explorers and pioneers, and serve to encourage the weary, lonely desert wanderer. The winds forever speak of God's presence. They build the foundations for the clouds, moving them into gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. Yes, this desert is indeed a remarkably inspiriting area for listening to the wind. If you are like me and love the caress of God against your face, then this is the place to be. God can reach out and touch you in a marvelous way through His elements of snow, wind and rain. What encouragement and inspiration His wonders can bestow upon you! Winds do not speak of cities, of high-rise buildings nor other manmade structures. They don't talk of dams or power plants. They don't whisper of trains or of airplanes or of automobiles, or of modern technology in any form. Their conversation is not of this world. Being spiritual in nature, winds could care less about those particularly earthly things. They do, as I mentioned before, speak to the waters and could overthrow the land and destroy its structures and its inhabitants, at any time, in any number of ways. Yet, winds are prone to God's mercy and do not overrule His established boundaries (Psalm135:7). They were created by Him and therefore operate by His authority (Psalm 147:18). They do His will, but beware; they are permitted, with limitations imposed by God, to also do the will of Satan (Job 1:19). The winds have understanding as well as might; they are lovingly obedient in all ways to the Lord their creator. They know their place in God's natural order of things and speak in accordance with His will. And so, being as diverse and influential as they are, they can be truly uplifting in spirit and uniquely instructive to one whose desire is to listen to them. As the wind can be a reminder to us of God's presence, it is also a reminder for us that God is in control. My daughter recently spoke to me of her experience in viewing the results of a tornado in a rural Ohio town. Profoundly, she was more concerned about identifying the purpose of God's work, if it was indeed God's work, than in contemplating the value of material losses among her relatives and neighbors. Incidentally, that tornado struck with great devastation on all sides of her home, but did not so much as lift a shingle on her house. Even if it would have struck her house, I am confident, through an understanding of her mindset regarding this event, that she is one who listens to and has understanding regarding the wind. Her obvious respect and growing love toward her Creator and his sovereignty have allowed her great insight—she is aware of who is in control and confident in His judgments. Listening to the wind is not really strange advice after all; Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in His fists? Who wraps up the oceans in His cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is His name-and His Son's name? Tell me if you know! (Proverbs 30:4 NLT)
Charge Joshua and encourage him and strengthen him, for he shall go across at the head of his people. (Deuteronomy 3:28 NASB) We're camping in the great eastern Mojave Desert region of southern California. It's morning and last night's campfire is just simmering coals now, but adequate for brewing trail coffee. It is easy here in this wilderness to hike a short distance from the trailer and find myself within the shield of a deep ravine, with no man made objects in sight. One might think that it would be mighty lonely out here, and I do sincerely miss various friends and family, yet, I am encouraged nonetheless. What I have is the encouragement of rugged desert topography, all around me, and the vast, open sky above me. It is indeed beautiful here and extremely quiet as well. Though it should be first and foremost, encouragement is not something you always find among people out there in the world. It is indeed like pure gold—a hard find. But with God, encouragement is available on a daily basis—even out here in the desert. When and if you seek encouragement, honoring its heavenly source, you will surely find it. A variety of brush grows here in the desert, which is now in gorgeous bloom. Sand washes and multicolored rocks abound. Rolling ills and pointed buttes are indeed impressive. Most importantly, I am alone with God amidst these wonders—a fine place to be in the morning. His creation is the very first thing I face, and the awesomeness, as well as the stillness, is an extreme pleasure. My thoughts are drawn toward Him immediately; I give thanks for the air that I breathe and the desert scents that I smell. I thank Him for my sight; that He has allowed me to behold yet another glorious morning among His wonders. I look down at my hiking boots on the desert terrain and give thanks that I have been allowed to walk on His sacred earth. The worries of the day have not crept in as of yet, and the warmth of His mercy, which is new every morning (Lamentations 3:23), now surrounds me. I am therefore encouraged beyond understanding (Philippians 4:7). I descend to my knees and ask for His strength so that I might endure this day among the human inhabitants of the earth, with the majority of their minds so far from Him. I ask that I might be allowed to continue to think of Him, so that I myself can survive the day. I have learned to understand that the world was formed by Him, that I was formed by Him, and as I walk out of this protective ravine I am encouraged that, no matter what I am about to face this day, I can endure because He is with me; guarding me, guiding me, all the day, all the way; something I didn't realize at all in my youth. I cannot turn back the hands of time, but I am indeed thankful for this present knowledge of Him. He does not hold yesterday against me. If I am willing, He will walk with me each day of my life. The gift of this knowledge and the faith it can generate is the absolute elite in encouragement. Among what friends or relations will you find this extreme height of encouragement? On the earth it is impossible, yet, with God, all things are possible (Mark 10:27). You can draw from this higher level by allowing the Spirit of God to work through you, and you can give the gift of such encouragement to friends or relations—to anyone with whom you come in contact. No matter where you live, no matter where or what you have been, no matter who you are, no matter what your circumstance and no matter how deep your scars or how repulsive the stains of your sins, you can be an encourager. You can create encouragement. You were designed to create! You can also encourage and inspire the creative abilities within others. Those who criticize can create nothing. There are those who believe in 'constructive criticism'. To the contrary, all criticism is destructive. We therefore need to turn our negative criticism into positive encouragement. We have each been given the opportunity to create. We were each created in God's image, thereby giving us the ability to create. As our talents vary, so our creativity varies. We, each and every one of us, have something unique to offer—something 'different' to add to encouragement. The earthly Webster defined encouragement as follows: To inspire with courage, hope or resolution. To help or to foster (promote) growth or development. In other words it means to build up. As God encourages us (builds us up), we need also to encourage (build up) others. We need to ask His help when speaking to others. We need to ask Him to guard our thoughts and our intentions. We need carefully then to season our words and/or actions toward others. We need the right 'flavor' in speaking or acting. The Bible describes the 'right words spoken' as spiritual weapons with the ability to knock down the devil's strongholds, to capture rebels and bring them back to God (2nd Corinthians 10:2-5). Properly seasoned, words can be indeed powerful! It is vitally important then to take the time to commune with God before or even while you're interacting and/or conversing with others. Also, when you are alone at night, go over the day's events with Him. Confess your faults and ask Him to help you in applying His counsel toward others and to guard your tongue in this process. No one of course can tame the tongue (James 3:8), but, by increasing this practice of communing with God, it is through Him that you can gain the wisdom and understanding needed to control your tongue. You can indeed be developed into a productive tool of creative encouragement. You can also help through sharing your life, your worldly goods, your active talents and seasoned speech, to inspire and to motivate the creativity in others. This sharing of your life, of your goods and of your talents, is an element of love, something we all need so desperately to do. Every thing you have has been given you from above (John 19:11). There are a lot of folks out there who have no homes, no daily bread, and many who have never even heard a kind word spoken. This should not be. These folks don't need the world nor what it offers—they need you. Try then not to lose patience in your continued endeavors to make the world a better place for those along your path. Go often to your favorite retreat, or to any place where you can engage in quiet prayer and seek the Lord's help. His encouragement toward you, freely given to you, is your greatest power for the influence of goodness toward others. Encouragement can make all the difference in the world in one's life. Pray that He will strengthen you in your efforts to encourage others. And after He had sent the multitudes away, He went up to the mountain by himself to pray. (Matthew 14:23 NASB)
The patient in spirit are better off than the proud in spirit... (Ecclesiastes 7:8) We're taking a little break here on this desert hike. We're near 'bout a mile from the middle of nowhere, somewhere in the Anza Borrego desert of southern California. A tiny lizard has just perched himself on the flat, gray rock beside me. He's actually doing "push-ups", a favorite pastime of these desert lizards... We've reached a high outcropping of sandstone rock on our trek, amidst hundreds of various outcrops, some distance above the desert floor... It is indeed a great place to take a break! We can see nearly 100 miles toward the horizon on this most beautiful and clear day, a typical southwestern desert day. Among the abundance of protruding rocks where I am perched are a variety of desert plants in bloom; multicolored barrel cactus blooms, blade cactus with pink and red blooms, and scattered desert brush displaying an assorted array of tiny yellow and blue flowers. Twisting choya cactus are also growing about, their prickly pears soaking up the present sunlight. This place is indeed a spectacle of God's artistic talent. It is of course obvious that the heavenly paintbrush was employed here, stroked so precisely by all-knowing hands into this finely arrayed rock garden. We can also see a few hikers here and there, just below my perch. A couple, another couple with children, and down there's an older couple with what appears to be their grandchildren. There are perhaps about eight people in all, scattered about out here in the silence. The wind is speaking lightly, boasting of its ride down and around the rocks and boulders to the winding sand washes below us. In the distance there are several monuments (mountains); high, jutting buttes, bold and majestic in appearance. Grand sentinels they are, guarding this vast, colorful expanse of rolling desert. There is an oasis out their, between us and those peaks, and that's where we're headed today. I call the oasis, Patience. When the winds stir up the dust in this region of beauty, so much that you can't really tell which way you are going, then the oasis becomes an accessible place of refuge, a good place to rest and wait out the storm. As we hike down from the outcrops toward the oasis, we just passed by a man who was carrying a small child on his back. The child was seated quite comfortably in a backpack, facing the direction his father was hiking. I noted that the childs' arms were around his fathers' neck and his head was lying against the back of the father's right shoulder. The boy appeared to be peacefully asleep as his father trudged onward against rugged terrain. I marveled at this... I know that God has carried me in this same manner, many times. Tired and weary in life, I have climbed onto His back and He has shouldered me through countless difficulties. Impatience in life has always worn me out. Patience is always and has always been a struggle to obtain. Every human being that has ever lived has struggled for it. A lack of patience is usually the reason we do in fact have to struggle for anything. When we learn how to slow down and let God have His way with us, we can then rest peacefully, like that young child on his father's shoulder. We will no longer have to pursue patience, so to speak, for we will be riding on its back, at rest, even perhaps asleep as that young child was. The Lord Himself is our patience, our oasis. He is the only true patience there is. (Romans 15:5) A key focus here in maintaining Godly patience; Try not to get impatient within your heart thinking that God is always angry with you because of your flaws. You will always be flawed—there's no escaping it. The wondrous thing is that God is always patient with you. He knows you are but dust. He will help you in your daily struggles if you trust in Him and not in yourself, for only He can grant you patience. — Try putting this teaching into practice; When you wake up in the morning remember that God has graciously given you a new day. A fresh start. His mercy is new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). Thank Him as you rise. As you hike through the morning in your mind, proceed slowly. Honor the sunrise. Listen to the wind. Touch the rain or the falling snow. Take notice of all things which God Himself has formed around you. There is patience and comfort in all of nature. This will, first of all, help you to focus on God and not on your normal daily trials or particular dilemma... Secondly, focus on spiritual values; Endeavor to smile at everyone you greet. Have an active compassion for the poor, the lame, or the sick. Be patient (long suffering) with anyone around you, no matter what the circumstances. Let your eyes reflect kindness and strength. Be courteous even to your enemies. Thank God often as your day progresses onward. Even in trials thank Him for the 'education' that all trials can bring. Walk outside in the evening and look up at the wonders in the sky and take comfort, giving thanks for all things. Pray for everyone in your life. Pray for the entire world as well. Go on to your bed in hope, thanking God for His continued mercy, and for His choosing to train you, in this fashion, for eternal life... This is patient living. Grab onto it! Be filled with it! Enjoy it! You will in time learn to experience Gods' peace, which is above and beyond human understanding (Philippians 4:7). Let us take our rest then within this oasis of patience. God is there and He is our refuge. It is there, within Him, that our faith can take firm root, that we might learn to depend upon Him. He is the only one who can help us to understand and to do what is good and right in this present world in which we live. Let us rest upon His shoulders, where our patience has a chance to grow... So, let it grow, for when your patience is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything (James 1:3). May the God of patience and comfort help you to be like-minded toward one another (Romans 15:5).
The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord... (Isaiah 29:19) Breakfast out in the open desert is the best meal of the day. As far as I'm concerned breakfast is truly the best meal anywhere, and at any time of day. Poke or stir a few embers in the bottom of the pit from last nights' campfire and you've got red hot coals, perfect for brewing trail coffee, the first item on our breakfast menu this morning. One of my sons, Mitchell, came up with a classic saying on a previous desert hike; "Trail coffee — make her like mud, drink her like a man", he said, as he raised his cup toward me; a gesture of thankfulness under the opening sunrise of that quiet and memorable desert morning... I guess it is kind of muddy, boiling the grounds, but when you remove that pot from the fire and let those grounds settle, you sip the best coffee ever made. No restaurant or coffee house could do better. My mother, who lived during the 1930's, said it was called "hobo coffee" in her day. Either label, the best things in life are derived from crude beginnings.— I've got some blueberry pancakes in the skillet and the bacon is already done. I'm sure that the aroma of it is what caused you to rise up out of that sleeping bag to greet this early desert sunrise... It is spectacular for sure. And the morning stillness out here is wholly awesome... so quiet you can hear a jack rabbit moving around out there in the brush. His ears are perked up as he joins us in watching the increasing sunrise. There's an early hawk squealing peacefully as he passes overhead, going for Chiriaco Summit, I'd guess—It would take us about two days to hike up to that peak and...well,.. he's there already. It's truly more than a fine morning. A slight breeze is stimulating the dust out there in the sand wash. The nearby Yucca and Joshua seem unaffected by it. Desert monuments, they are! It takes a strong wind to stir them. They bare the scars of extremely high velocity sand winds, yet they remain undisturbed. They are in fact shaped by the wind yet rarely torn down. Their skin is distinctly tough and within lies an even greater strength—one of the desert's more exquisite mysteries. There's much that our Creator has taught us through the things He has made. Great wisdom is available if we choose to seek understanding... We'll be hiking into the Canyon of the Crescent Moon today. Though only rock, clay and mud, its two plus miles of precipitous walls display a variety of natural colors, woven somewhat linearly throughout the vertical of their 80 to 120 foot height. Equally as colorful are the imposing rock formations, which are intrinsic (natural) of water laid clay and dominate the canyon floor itself. Other more massive shapes appear sporadically along the rim, where they seem to reach outward and upward as true statues; masterpieces of Gods' art, respectfully saluting His more detailed artwork within the canyon itself. The Canyon of the Crescent Moon is so-named because it appears as a crescent moon in shape, cut into this desert in the middle of nowhere, formed by the mighty waters of that historic deluge we call the Flood of Noah. To the west there is Sandwich Mountain. From up on top either of its twin peaks is a tremendous view of the desert, the Canyon of the Crescent Moon stamped artfully right into the center of it. Seeing it from up there is, shall I say, dynamically poetic. Like a psalm of the earth brought to life... A sand wash leads south-eastward from our overnight camp here, and that's the trail we'll be hiking today. There's some rock strewn hills along the wash that are accented by a variety of poppies, intermingled with varying shades of green yet dry desert brush. Red Indian paint brush, a breed of desert bloom, dot the landscape and add much flavor to this already breathtaking exhibition. Large boulders are somewhat scarce until you reach the entrance of the canyon itself, where the rugged hills and plants abruptly give way to some huge and distinctly colorful sandstone formations at the mouth of the canyon. It's like, all of a sudden, you're entering a different world; From one exquisitely painted landscape to another, boldly different yet equally spectacular in their own way... And there's a distinct odor for each; the sweet, head clearing fragrance of desert plants on one side, and the dry, tranquil odor of red rock sandstone on the other.—So many sights and so many scents God has put into His creation. It's unfathomable. Indeed, awe-inspiring! We're hiking into this canyon today with purpose; we are in search of your joy. I figure that it might be a bit easier for you to find joy amidst this natural garden of God than anywhere else. Some folks can look at the desert and see nothing but barrenness—it's a form of depression to them. We know better, don't we ? Joy is everywhere here! Can you see it? Can you feel it? No? You don't understand it? Let's talk about it for a moment then, shall we?... Last Spring I hiked on down to Tucson to visit a friend I hadn't seen in 36 years. John Milton Brandt had been my best friend in high school, and the last time I actually saw him was about three years after we had graduated. To make a long story short; we ended up having a darn good visit. We took a scenic walk in the area mountains and talked about many things; joy being one of them. We concluded, from an earthly standpoint, that the present days of our lives were not as joyful as those of our youth... When you get older and you've "been there and done that", won and lost (both of which John and I have), true and lasting joy seems to be a hard find. It is sometimes hard to get up in the morning, to face a new day, to find a means to feel that youthful emotion of joy. The enemy (Satan), with our ultimate destruction in mind, has been able to suppress it. In many cases he has literally stolen it away—joy is gone, nowhere to be found. It is, "no more". The taking of ones' life has been the ultimate choice at this crossroads for many. Bottom line; the absence of joy can be a destroyer, a cause of unbearable grief and eventually death. It is truly difficult to find joy amidst the shame, sorrow and regret of times and years gone by. It's like trying to find a little hope of life in a valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1, 2). Joy itself is mentioned in the Bible nearly 300 times. Understanding more about joy may help you to rediscover it. Let us hike in that direction, shall we? First of all, joy is increased in the Lord (Isaiah 29:19). In other words, with the knowledge of God there is a new freshness in joy. Joy takes on new meaning. Secondly, joy comes to one who is pleasing to God (Ecclesiastes 2:26). Pleasing God requires honoring Him for who He is (recognizing that He exists) and for being thankful in and for all things (Romans 1:21). Thirdly, the Word of God or words of God bring great joy to the heart (Jeremiah 15:16). The words of God are delightful in that they give you understanding regarding the creation itself. This takes in all things made by God, including yourself. You are unique! No one in the world has your same fingerprints, therefore, that in itself makes you indeed one of a kind. God took individual concern in forming you (Psalm 139:15)— That's joy! Fourthly, the joy of the Lord cannot be taken from you (John 16:22). This is an ever increasing, everlasting joy. Time and circumstances cannot take it away. Now that you understand a little more about the true nature of joy, I am sure that you have wisely recognized that it is more of a "thing to comprehend" rather than a "feeling". Ardent feelings can and will come with true joy, but perhaps not at first. Like all good things, joy will take time to grow. Learning what joy truly is and nurturing it is your part. God will increase your joy—that alone is His part (1st Corinthians 3:6,7).— It's time to hike out of the valley of dry bones and on into the Canyon of the Crescent Moon. It's time to focus on the beauty of this creation and thereby build a foundation for a new growth of joy. Let us truly understand who the Lord is and be thankful that we're still alive; that we still have time to consider and alter our course... I know how exceedingly difficult it is to let go of the past; how hard it is to find a place for the shame, sorrow and regret of bad times and painful years gone by. There is always something there to remind us and to carry us back emotionally. But, remember, it is emotionally. We cannot be drawn back physically. We do not have to relive those times physically. They are as the valley of dry bones. Yes, there may have been some joys there...some great joys. But you were a different person then. You acted in ignorance and without true understanding. Some folks say that we live two lives... the one we learn with, and the one we live with after that. But, if you are in Christ, you are a new man/woman. You have been created anew spiritually—old things are passed away (2nd Corinthians 5:17). As you hike into the Canyon of the Crescent Moon you can consider this joyous position you now have in Christ. Take notice of what He has made and rejoice in that as well. Let us hike continually into His Word, where we'll find the precious promises that will sustain us. And let us remember that these are things that no one can take away from us. No one can steal our thoughts nor the pictures we paint within our heart through the joy of God's creation and the encouragement of His word. Our treasures are protected there. You can now find new joy in the meaning and purpose of the life God has so graciously allowed you. You can be transformed from your old way of thinking by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). You can hike out of the darkness and despair of this world, out of the valley of dry bones, into the Canyon of the Crescent Moon and joyfully onward; into the glorious and joyous light of Gods' eternal kingdom (John 12:46). His mercy is indeed new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). Do not dispair, dear friend, nor be weary from weeping. Your joy can and will blossom once again! God's anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes in the morning. * The wilderness becomes a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. (Psalm 30:5 *Psalm 65:12)
We've talked about campfires before (Lake Trail, Moonlight hike # 7). We've talked about gorgeous sunrises, sunsets, and nighttime desert skies with horizon to horizon starlight. We've talked about the unequaled landscaping of the desert as well as the varieties of desert terrain. We've considered our presence here among these things to be some very precious moments in time. Yet, there are others here with us, unique to this place. They are the daylight animals of this vast wilderness, an assortment of birds of the air, and the inhabiting creatures and critters of medicinal desert nights... A long time ago I read a most profound Scripture that said; Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you, or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, and the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every living creature and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:7-10) I've spent a lot of productive time doing just that. I've been asking, and I've been learning. You might think I'm crazy; believing that I can talk to the birds and the animals, huh? Well, I'm not Doctor Doolittle, but I have learned many things while wandering the southwestern deserts. Out here a man (or woman) can take the time to learn. There are no schedules, no meetings (save with the creatures), no pressures of any kind; just raw time. Time to watch. Time to listen. Time to talk with God and the animals, and time to ask. Time to learn from the creatures that God has so wonderfully made. Let us observe just a few of the deserts' more popular inhabitants and learn something about them, shall we? Coyotes The first desert creature I want you to observe today is the Coyote. Lots of 'em out here in the desert. One of the most adaptable animals in the world, the Coyote can change its breeding habits, diet and social dynamics to survive a wide variety of habitats. It is an opportunistic, persistent and extremely elusive predator, skilled in a variety of hunting techniques. It travels over its range and hunts both day and night, running swiftly and catching its prey easily. The Coyote is extremely intelligent in that it honors all attributes given it by the Creator. Here in the desert its principle diet is composed of mice, rabbits, ground squirrels and other small rodents, insects, reptiles, and fruits and berries of wild plants. While hunting for food the Coyote's hearing is very acute and is used for detecting prey and avoiding danger. With an excellent sense of smell the Coyote tracks its prey, then usually stalks it for 20-30 minutes before pouncing. A Coyote can run at nearly 40 miles per hour. It has the stamina to chase its prey over long distances and then can strike when the quarry is exhausted. They are however truly much more than just great hunters. Of all the wild animals on our planet they are an outstanding example of devotion to family. They are ideal parents, sharing with their spouse the responsibility of feeding and raising their young ones. In their dens they are loving, loyal, and most willing to work together for the common good. I'm not a family man at this time, but if I were I would take lessons from the mature domestic qualities of the Coyote. How I wish I would have wandered the deserts in my earlier years and learned both the value and application of these meaningful qualities! I'm sure it would have produced in me the wisdom to be a much better communicator, provider, and leader to and for the family God gave me. Coyotes use a variety of calls to defend their territory, as well as for strengthening social bonds and general communication. I have heard them 'calling' in great numbers. If you go into their territory and call out in a similar fashion, the Coyotes will indeed call out to you in return. I experienced this most unique communication many times while working high in the Angeles Forest with Hal Deckhert, one of my campground work associates. We were fortunate to get our 'talking to the coyotes' experiences on videotape. It is indeed a treasured piece of work. A lot of folks think of Coyotes only as savages and scavengers. When these folks hear the call of the Coyote, the hair usually stands up on the back of their necks. But, to the seasoned outdoorsman or the Native American, the howl of the Coyote is truly a song of the West. The animal's finer qualities go virtually untold, one of them being that Coyotes are quite necessary in preserving the balance of nature. We are indeed fortunate that the night song of the 'Little Wolf' may still be heard throughout the desert southwest. There is much one can glean from the observation and study of these incredible animals. Jack Rabbits The black-tailed Jack Rabbit, a desert dweller, is found in all four southwestern American deserts. Its diet is strictly vegetation, such as shrubs, creosote bushes, mesquite trees, snakeweeds, junipers, big sagebrushes and cacti. The Jack Rabbit eats constantly and doesn't require much water, as it obtains nearly all the water it needs from the plant material it eats—they're great harvesters, and preserve the balance of nature in the desert by spreading seed. Jack Rabbits are born bright eyed, active soon after birth and ready to fend for themselves in just 30 days. They reach adult size in seven to eight months. They are more active in the evening and their eyes focus well at night. They are always aware of their surroundings, and in addition to this keen eyesight rely on acute hearing and swift zigzag running to insure their safety and survival. They can leap as far as fifteen feet, reaching speeds up to 50 miles per hour in their escape. They are nearly twice as elusive as the cottontail rabbit. Also unlike the cottontail rabbit they are not found in the more easy to menace social groups. Jack Rabbits are solitary creatures. This tends to make them quite good at survival. Unfortunately they are sometimes the victim of predators, such as bobcats, foxes, horned owls, eagles, hawks, snakes and coyotes. The victimization of this gentle creature reminds me of John the baptist, who was a cousin of Jesus of Nazareth. John spent his life in the desert. He was a solitary individual whose diet was locusts and wild honey. He went about dressed in camel hair clothing—a lowly man honorably called to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus and the kingdom of God. Many of the common people loved him, but he was indeed hated by the religious leaders of his day. He was eventually caged in prison at a young age and beheaded through the vindictiveness of an evil predator, the wife of a king. Though John would have been despised in today's world—dressed in camel hair and living like a transient in the remoteness of the desert—Jesus declared him to be the greatest man ever born (Matthew 11:8-11). He was indeed a wise harvester, winning many souls back to God, yet he was a man of simple means. To have any of his qualities today, including his love for the wilderness and his ability to adapt to it, would be indeed a great honor. Locusts Locusts, who frequent the desert, are mentioned far more times than all the other insects of the Bible combined. There's much to learn from these small but enlightened creatures. Allow me to give you just a few insights into their characteristics. The average swarm of Locusts is made up of 40 billion individuals, who eat 40 million pounds of food a day. The largest recorded swarm to date was two thousand miles long and had an estimated population of 250 billion Locusts. That particular swarm could have eaten 250 million pounds of food a day. They are considered mostly to be destroyers. They are unbelievably devastating when in such unity. Their food is vegetation, most of which is for human consumption. Surprisingly, Locusts do not have any leaders—no king—yet they march like an army in ranks (Proverbs 30:27). The Proverbs also teach us that Locusts are one of four things on earth that are small, but unusually wise (Proverbs 30:24). When Locusts swarm they go in the same direction and do the same thing, accomplishing a common goal without any leadership. Unity in the right direction is indeed wise. Much can be accomplished by working together. God gives us this proverbial picture of unity through the activity of the Locusts. We don't need a human king to accomplish what we were created for (1st Samuel 8:6,7). If we would all have as our purpose to love and to serve God rather than ourselves, we could accomplish many things that we are at present unable to accomplish (John 15:5). God also makes a wonderful promise to us using Locusts in a spiritual application: I will restore to you the years that the swarming locusts have eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust (Joel 2:25 NKJV). God is ready to forgive you of your many failures and to restore the years lost in the hardships that life has dealt, if you are willing. Owls Great Horned Owls, whose feather tufts above the ears appear as 'horns,' often spend their winters protected by the rocks and crags of desert canyons. The Owls are birds of prey, hunting rodents and other small animals. These great birds can reach as much as 22 inches in length. Their "hoot" is a classic sound of the wild, and like the coyote, can be heard a long way off. It is still another 'song of the West.' They are also great parents, both male and female fiercely defending their nest site against intruders. If young Owls fall out of their nest prematurely, the adults will both feed and protect the birds on the ground. When Owls awaken, they use their hearing and eyesight to alert them of danger or possible prey. Great horned Owl's eyes, which are almost as large as humans, allow an abundant amount of light to pass through the pupil so that the Owl can see well in dark conditions. If one of these Owls were as big as a human in bodily stature, each of its eyes would be the size of a small grapefruit! However, their eyes are fixed in the sockets and cannot be moved up or down or from side to side. They are able to rotate their head 270 degrees to compensate for this fixed condition of their eyes. They also have an incredible sense of hearing. They use triangulation to pinpoint the source of a sound when their prey cannot be seen. By tilting or moving their head until the sound is of equal volume in each ear, the Owl can pinpoint the direction and distance of the sound quite accurately. The Owl's facial disk is shaped like a shallow bowl. This shape acts like a satellite dish, to help funnel sound into the ear openings. The Owl is indeed unique in its appearance. Throughout history and across many cultures people have regarded Owls with fascination and awe. Among the different American Indian tribes there are various beliefs regarding the Owl. According to Navajo legend, the Creator told the Owl that men would listen to its voice to learn what would be their future. To the Apache warriors, dreaming of an Owl signified approaching death. The Ogallala Sioux allowed warriors who had excelled in battle to wear a cap of Owl feathers to signify their bravery. They also believed that the forces of nature would favor those who wore Owl feathers, and that their vision (both physical and spiritual) would be increased. But the Sioux medicine men warned that to actually see an Owl meant that someone, other than the observer, was going to die. The Cheyenne of the Great Plains believe that the Owl represents the north wind. In England, it's supposedly good luck to see an Owl. That Owls are like gods, with knowledge and wisdom, is a legend of Greek origin. The Romans wrote that the Owl could only foretell evil and are to be dreaded more than all other birds. Each of these legends, as well as hundreds of others, portrays the Owl as a creature that apparently possesses special powers not found in other animals. It is truly one of the most honored of birds. Being a creation of God, the Owl is of course even wiser than we have come to think. Legends aside there is much we can learn from a study of the Owl regarding its unique features, habits and abilities. Sheep Sheep receive more attention in the Bible than any other animal. They were important in the domestic, civic, and religious life of the Israelites. The earliest mention of Sheep is in Genesis 4:2, where it is said that "Abel was a keeper of Sheep." This was quite early in the creation, as Abel was one of Adam's children, who continued to honor God's love through caring for His creatures. The shepherd's integral care is beautifully portrayed in the 23rd Psalm. This continuous care of the Sheep eventually led the early shepherds to know each one in their flock by name. Sheep were always led and never driven; they relied completely upon their shepherd for guidance. Occasionally shepherdesses cared for Sheep as in the case of the seven daughters of the priest of Midian, whom Moses assisted at a well. Water wells were important meeting places for tribesmen (and women) and their flocks in those days. Both good and poor shepherds are mentioned in the Bible, and during the latter parts of Israel's history their leaders were denounced as being bad shepherds. Figures of speech concerning Sheep and shepherding were used repeatedly as God warned His people of their shortcomings. Through this guidance God became known as the Shepherd of His people. Jesus Christ came to earth as the Good Shepherd and His arrival was announced, not in broad daylight to the government of Rome or to the Jewish religious leaders, but to humble shepherds who were watching their flocks by night in the fields. God sees not as man sees nor pays attention to the ranking order of men, but in righteousness (doing things right) respects the humble and lowly. Sheep were kept for their milk more than for their flesh. The common breed could store a vast amount of fat in the tail and this was used as food. They also provided wool for clothing and blankets, and horns; used either for carrying oil or wine, or as trumpets for summoning the people together. Horns were also used in religious rites. The skins of rams were used in making the covering of the tabernacle. Of course, Sheep were also used in sacrifice. Offerings consisted not only of lambs but also of ewes and rams. The ultimate sacrifice was the Lamb of God, who in many respects was foreshadowed by the ways in which lambs had served as sacrifices throughout the centuries before Christ. Jesus was the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, sacrificed according to God's plan that would allow us to be saved through Him. He was led like a Sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth (Acts 8:32). There was a time in my life when I didn't pay much attention to Sheep. Now, I am deeply inspired by them. God in His kindness has given me that inspiration. Each time I observe a flock in the desert or its adjacent fields, I search out the young lambs and watch them play. I want to pick them up and cuddle them in my arms. I thank God for giving me this warm desire to care for each of His creatures. I always consider and long to imitate the gentleness of the Lamb—the One who cared enough to give His life for me. Ravens There are many Ravens out here in the desert. These scavengers go most everywhere and will eat just about anything; dead and decaying meat, rodents, insects and rotten garbage left by inconsiderate hikers and campers. They are what we would consider 'nasty birds,' as they store their food in animal dung in order to prevent it from freezing during the winter. They also sift through various kinds of animal dung in search of tasteful dung beetles. We humans have for centuries considered them a disgusting bird, associating them with filth, evil and horror. It is interesting to know however that Ravens are considered to be the most intelligent of all birds. A Raven will drop a walnut in front of an oncoming car, allowing it to be crushed in order to devour its meat. They are indeed problem solvers. God honored the Ravens when He allowed them to bring food to His servant, Elijah, who was hiding in a barren desert from the wrath of a vicious King Ahab (1st Kings 17:6). The Ravens brought Elijah bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening. We are not told how long Elijah stayed in the desert, but he didn't leave until a brook he was drinking from there had dried up. The Ravens fed him until the very day he left. When I see the Ravens I think of this enduring story, of the so-called 'disgusting birds' that kept one of God's greatest servants alive. It also serves to remind me of how much God has cared for me over the years. The Scriptures teach us to consider the Ravens; they do not plant or harvest, they don't have storehouses or barns to put food in, yet our heavenly Father feeds them. This teaching concludes by saying that we humans are of far more value to Him than many birds (Luke 12:24). Though these creatures appear to have some strange habits, they are due our respect and admiration, as are all of God's creatures. There is a dire warning in the Scriptures concerning Ravens: The eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pluck it out (Proverbs 30:17 NKJV). As a Boy my mother use to tell me that if I were disobedient, the birds would pluck out my eyes. Now I know where she got that idea—it did keep me on my toes, and I am thankful to this day for that wise admonition. Snakes One of the first things I ever saw out here in the desert was a Snake. A big ol' buck rattler. I remember at that very moment recalling what Jesus had said, 'be as wise as the serpent' (Matthew 10:16). When God made the creatures of the earth He made the Snake more subtle than any of the other creatures (Genesis 3:1). During the whole of its life the Snake never closes its eyes. It cannot because God designed it without eyelids. A Snake keeps watch 24 hours a day, every day, 365 days of the year. The Snake sleeps, but its eyes continue to see objects that might affect its safety and survival. For example, if a Snake were napping on a rock and a leaf fell from a nearby tree within the Snake's field of vision, the Snake would remain asleep. But, if the Snake were to see the shape of a hawk, a coyote, an eagle or some other predator, it would awaken and crawl to safety. That's the ultimate in observation. It is something we humans need to learn to do with regard to the cunning deceitfulness of Satan, that serpent of old, who can be lying around while we're unaware, in a watchful endeavor to destroy us (Psalm 37:32). But snakes are not only observant; they're also very sensitive—feeling oriented. The viper has a labial pit on each side of its face, inside of which is a heat-sensitive nerve. There are many times when a viper crawls through high grass and cannot see its prey. Yet, the Snake can feel better than it can see. The viper turns its head from side to side until each heat-sensitive nerve detects the same temperature. It can sense a quarter-degree of temperature difference five feet away. If it strikes at a heat source while its nerves are experiencing the same temperature, it will hit the source with deadly accuracy. Missile guidance systems were designed after the heat-sensing capability of the viper. These systems were first used to guide the so-called Sidewinder missiles. The Snake has a unique way of finding food. As it crawls it licks the air with its narrow, forked tongue. The tongue has a sticky substance that attracts molecules in the air. When the Snake withdraws its tongue and rubs it across a sensing organ within its mouth, it is able to classify particular molecules. If adequate quantities exist, the Snake knows he's got something. He then curls up and waits for the chance to snatch his prey. Snakes have remarkable patience and endurance. They can remain motionless without eating or drinking for months. Snakes are at their best after they have been exposed to light for a time. They are cold blooded by nature, but can and do adapt to the surrounding temperatures. The colder they are the slower they move and the less likely they are to catch food. If you encounter a rattlesnake napping in the shade, the chances are he won't move when you walk by him, unless you approach him directly. However, they warm up when they are in the light, and that makes them agile enough to do what they have to do. Many animals are physically strengthened by light. I believe we humans are as well. Again, the Bible teaches that the serpent is subtler than any creature God has made. By observing the way of Snakes in their natural habitat we can learn much about our spiritual adversary. The Devil has been labeled as a serpent since the very beginning (Revelation 12:9). You should recall that he appeared in the form of a serpent to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He may take on any form he desires, which is something we should be constantly aware of. He is an angel of light (2nd Corinthians 11:14), who many times makes it difficult for us to discern good from evil. Do not underestimate his subtlety. Wild Donkeys Ever encounter a wild Donkey or wild Burro? There are a few out here in the wilderness, but a lot more wander the desert terrain in and around Death Valley. If you're camping out there you can usually hear one braying off in the distance. Sometimes they'll wander right into your camp, but for the most part they're skittish. They move quickly too. You most likely won't get a rope on one of them. However, if your rope toss is successful, you had better be prepared to get dragged through the desert brush. It's best to leave them alone—best to just watch them, perhaps toss them a carrot or two, and enjoy their company. They'll usually hang around awhile and investigate you, then wander off peacefully. Donkeys have never been considered among the elite animals. They don't carry great warriors into battle. They never pulled fancy chariots in the days of the Pharaohs. Yet, they are quite dependable and almost tireless beasts, capable of carrying heavier packs than horses quite a bit further than horses. Pack stations frequently use them nowadays to carry visitors' gear into recreational wilderness areas. Trail crews nationwide use them to haul trail-building materials and equipment. At Grand Canyon they carry hundreds of annual visitors along steep, hair-raising trails into its breathtaking depths on a daily basis. In the early days of our American West, around 1873, a fellow by the name of W.T. Coleman built the first Borax works in Death Valley. He developed the famous system of 20 mule-team wagons that hauled the processed mineral 165 miles across that arid desert to the railroad at Mojave. The place where he originally mined is just a ghost town now. I might add here that there are a few ghost town remnants in Death Valley. It's a very interesting place to explore if you are a ghost town enthusiast. The point is, the folks who moved away from there left everything behind, including the mules—mostly Donkeys and Burros. Over the last 130 years or so those animals have roamed wild and have continued to breed. I find it exciting to see these wild and beautiful creatures wandering among the desert plants. I especially love to hear them bray. Burros are peaceful animals. Like I mentioned before, in ancient times no great warriors climbed aboard Donkeys. Most warriors were all accomplished horsemen. But in the ancient Near East both kings and princes rode on Donkeys. The difference between the two (horseman and Donkey rider) was related to the prevalent events in the land they occupied. A horse-riding king was a warrior, while a Donkey-riding ruler surveyed a peaceful land from his saddle. A warrior would meet out justice with a sword. A ruler pronounced justice with his words. What I am getting at is that Jesus, the King of Kings, announced his authority from the back of a young Donkey (Matthew 21:1-11). He was indeed a ruler. Great multitudes of people came to honor this Ruler of Rulers as He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a common Donkey. He was not a warrior who came to fight our physical battles. He came in peace as a servant King. He came to display a servant's heart and to set an example for us, so that we might learn to depend upon Him and allow Him to express this attitude through our own hearts. He performed many miracles, which proved who He was and where He was from. The thrust of His teaching was that all would come to know Him and His Father as being humble and lowly in heart. Yet, no one knew Him, even though He had been spoken of in many ways and identified repeatedly as the Messiah (anointed one of God) throughout the ancient Scriptures, which teachings the religious leaders of those days were supposedly knowledgeable of. When He finally entered Jerusalem aboard that lowly Donkey with multitudes of supporters in His train, the religious leaders along with the whole of the city, whom he had ministered to time and again for more than three years, were stirred and asked, "Who is this?" Many still ask that question. All should have known who He was. A few did, but lacked the courage to stand with Him to the end. Personally, I continue to learn to know Him. Much of my learning comes through a study of the things He has made. So, when I see a wild Donkey out here, that most glorious beast of burden, it brings these things I've just talked to you about into my remembrance. The teacher is no better than the pupil. It's always good to be re-reminded and made aware of the things that truly pertain to this life. After all, we live in a world that is pretty much unaware, do we not? ¤ We've so much to learn from the creatures God has made; From Coyotes, from Jackrabbits, from Locusts, from Owls, from Sheep, from Ravens, from Snakes, and from wild Donkeys— actually from every single solitary creature God has created upon the earth! Insects, birds, reptiles, mammals, fish, you name it! There is not one creature alive on the earth, or in the sea, that God has not individually, diversely and uniquely designed for a specific purpose. According to the Scriptures, each one of them could indeed wisely educate us. According to the Scriptures, each and every one of them know, honor and trust in God, their creator (Job 12:7-10). Being the highest order of creation on God's earth, should we humans not all the more do likewise? Modern science has learned much about the habits and life-style of many of earths' creatures. There are huge libraries stocked full of this particular type of information throughout the world. The problem however with modern science, and with most textbooks on the inhabitants of the creation, is that they fall short by failing to recognize God as the author of all things (Genesis 1:20-26). Therefore, the best of the presently existing theories, reasoning or arrived conclusions of mankind, regarding the creatures of the earth, are known to be somewhat burdened with false or misleading information. In other words, you can't really trust them for concluding accuracy. Discernment which considers Gods' direction, perception and purposes, pertaining to what He has made, is what's required at the highest level.— The book of Job, chapters 37 through 42, is a great place for the whole world to begin. Secular textbooks are useful, providing that you consider the information and apply it under the proper light, which is Gods' truth and eternal purpose. Most rewarding of course is your own personal observation of Gods' creatures in their natural environment. Your spirit will soar as you watch and contemplate the creature creations first hand, while you thankfully consider Gods' words; Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:7-10) The sun has been down for awhile. I really and truly appreciate your time spent with me on this portion of the Desert Trail. I hope the information I've given you regarding just a few of Gods' remarkable creatures will be helpful to you in relating them to yourself, or to any particular circumstances that life has dealt you.— We'll be up early in the morning; off on a grand adventure through the Joshua Tree wilderness of southern California and on into the Black Eagle mining country, just east of there. We'll be hittin' some desert back country for sure. If you have never been 'off-roading', now is your time to go along and get a good taste of it. It's truly an illuminating adventure that I believe you won't want to miss... For now, good night, Hiker.
They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts... He split the rock and water gushed out for them to drink... (Isaiah 48:21) Just minutes before the sun rises in the desert, if you awaken at the right time, there is a look and scent about the place that is unmatched, anywhere. It's just a matter of crawling out of your sleeping bag, donning a pair of jeans, slipping into a clean t-shirt and lacing up your hiking boots. When you first exit your tent you catch the rewarding look and scent of dawn. Reverent is the nearest word of description in the English language. The next best word; majestic. It is, in addition, elegantly quiet. As you walk out past the perimeter of your camp and on into the desert for a morning stroll, all you hear is the sound of the desert floor under your feet. A poetic meshing together of the sand and pebbles and brush with each step. It is a time of awareness. A time to reflect on your good fortune; on life, on breath, on sight, on hearing, on smell, on taste and on touch; presently, the magnificent touch of your footsteps on this sacred ground. All of Gods' earth is sacred ground. Listen as you walk. Allow the sound of your steps on the surface to take hold of your mind. Allow them to encourage your heart... You might hike a short distance and then just sit down upon the desert earth... perhaps beside some cactus or other desert sprouts. It's okay to just sit right down in the dirt, if that's what you choose to call it. It won't hurt you. It just may allow you to become one with it. Now that you are seated, whether in an upright position, slouched position, or leaning back on your hands, you'll continue looking around at the terrain. Again you smell the air. Now is a good time to thank the One who allows you such an exquisite pleasure... He's going to reward you in a moment. Reward you for thinking about Him out here and acknowledging firsthand what He has made. Yes. Here it comes. The clouds in the east have a slight orange casting to them. They appear to catch fire as they begin to pick up the colors of the increasing sunrise. Your breath escapes you as you gaze upon this most illuminating wonder... Now, you will think to yourself, how precious this time is, how wonderful to have my mind free from all worries and concerns! Yes. You are free to concentrate on this lovely place. Here, you feel truly free. To what do you ascribe this freedom? This is the freedom named peace. A peace that only God can allow you. And, He can give this to you no matter where you are. He can give this to you no matter what you are doing. Perhaps you just haven't known how to attain it. This particular type of peace requires special insight. It requires unique understanding. It also requires true humility. This is the reason for your journey with us. This is the purpose of your high desert adventure. To learn to know something of the God who formed you. To learn how to find Him in a world where He is not truly understood and/or accepted. If you have taken to heart what we've taught you while on this incredible journey, you have gained a considerable amount of knowledge concerning God and His creation. You are learning to focus on Him. As we head toward our final destination, the Black Eagle country, we hope to increase your focus onto the center, into the heart, of His purpose for you... With the scent of bacon drifting toward you from the camp, you hike back into the perimeter as the sunrise completes its early, inspiring display. Within the camp, Phil Henry has set a table to include hot cakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, slices of oranges and your choice of Raisin Bran, Cheerios, or Shredded Wheat.— There were a couple grapefruit halves but Tim Murray got the last one. "Eat up", Phildo beckons. "Got some darn good chow here... A man can't think well or hike well on poor feed... We're headin' into the Black Eagle country on this fine morning and I'm about as excited as a man can get.... You go ahead, Hiker, sit right down there on that rock and I'll dish you up some of this trail grub, before those other boys get over here and make a mess of my field kitchen. The Old Man (Mark Taylor) and the others are packing up for the hike just now, so while they're doin' that and while you're enjoying my breakfast, I'm going to begin to tell you a little story about this Black Eagle country; a good story. We can talk about it some more as we hike on up there... Not to long ago my son, Phil Junior, along with myself, the Old Man and his son, Mitch, took a memorable jeep trip into this country. That particular adventure later became forever known as the Black Eagle Discovery... The trail goes east from Joshua Tree and winds for a bit through some picturesque rocks, then gradually climbs out of the Monument boundary onto higher desert ground. That's where you start seeing the abandoned gold and silver mines. They're all over the faces of the mountains in that area. Crude and weather beaten roads, very seldom traveled, covered in places with rock slide debris, still lead on up to most of them. There are some steep switch-backs too. Most Broncos and Jeeps can make it to the entrances, but some of the old rock slides are so strewn with big boulders that you'd most likely be put a'foot before you actually got up there.— I swear, the men and women who worked those mines were some tough ol' cobs. They usually lived right on the mining property itself, in all that desert heat and through some mighty gusty and wet winters. Those folks had a bit of hard grain sand mixed well into their attitudes, that's for sure. There's a lot of ruins thereabouts; old granite and clay foundations mostly. Some of the old sluice boxes are still standing yet, aged and worn as they are, they may have collapsed since the last time I was out here. The high mounds of sand that had accumulated underneath them back when they were in operation have hardened over the years—like rock. You can walk heel to toe along their narrowed tops without making any footprints. It's a balancing act and it's kinda' thrilling. There are also some remains, framing in general, of the steel cable towers that were part of the system which pulled the ore cars up and out of the vertical mine shafts. You can find some old pieces of the cable, a few old car parts, some super-large nuts and bolts and an enormous gear wheel or two lying around, entirely rusted now of course.— The companies usually built their kitchens right next to the mine's entrance. They fed the miners in shifts who were going in and out of the mine, to and from work. A lot of telltale ruins remain there also. Unfortunately, neither the mining companies nor their employees had a whole lot of respect for the land. Scattered among the relics I just mentioned you'll find old food cans and bottles piled all over the place. They left stove parts, pots and pans, old dishes, clothing; mostly torn shoes and boots, small tools and a few old books. It's a good place to hunt and dig for relics if that's what you're inclined to do. I think, if you had a metal detector, you might even find some old coins up there in those ruins. Mitch Taylor was just walking around near the Black Eagle mine entrance when he happened onto an old clay bottle, pottery type, perhaps a rare medicine bottle of some sort. Well, we all got to digging around through the rubble up there after his find, and unearthed some other pottery items. We even came across an old kiln and figured that was perhaps where some of the mining women may have made their own dishes, bottles and other type containers, for use in the camp. We also found some old pieces of canvas from the tents those people lived in. They were heavy tents. Much better quality than the canvas tents of today. They were stitched with leather, extra large and roomy too, but without windows of any sort.— I think though we were most impressed with an old pair of ladies boots we found. They were leather, all scrunched up and dried out, but you could still see the words, 'Texas Boot Company' stamped into the inside of the leather, just below the top. My granddad would have said; 'Yep, these miners were Texans all right. Anybody that would leave an area lookin' this bad's got to be from Texas... lowest form of white man there is.'— That old buzzard always made me laugh. He was an Arizona cowboy for sure. Didn't think much of Texas or Texans. Then again, he didn't think much of anybody... You'd think a man might grow a bit more sympathetic or tolerable with age...Oh, well... Anyway, we continued scavenging around until dark and ended up hitting the sack late that first night. When we got up in the morning we planned to do some underground exploring after breakfast. I was a bit hesitant at first, old mines being exactly what they are; old mines, I was a little concerned about one caving in on us.— We soon located a shaft that went straight into the side of a hill. We could see plenty of sunlight in there, so we figured it wasn't a very deep shaft. The Old Man gave us some encouragement; he went first and we followed. We could almost stand up once we got inside. It was pretty solid rock in there, no support beams whatsoever. It was a little cold, not damp at all, more like a refrigerator cold, know what I mean? We had all worn flannel shirts that morning. We were each equipped with a flashlight and had plenty of water and first aid gear, and so we just kept movin'. It was a fairly level walk for about forty feet or so. The passage was somewhat narrow, then it gradually opened up and we entered an area cut out like a big room. There was a huge hole that had been cut in the rock dome directly above us which allowed a lot of sunlight in.— That was the light we'd seen from the entrance. The hole was a rectangular cut, about four by six feet and was nearly twelve feet up from the floor. Pretty good sized room, huh? We found out later that it was an abandoned vertical entrance dug out on the crest of the hill, just above the shaft we had entered. Just below it, in front of us, in the center of the floor, was a partially boarded vertical mine shaft! My son stepped closer toward it and pointed his flashlight down through an opening between the boards. He was all excited; 'Look, Dad...an old ladder goes down in there!' Well, he moved about a half step closer, testing the partial covering with his foot. The Old Man blurted out; 'Get back boy, before we lose you.' Curiosity soon got the best of all of us and together we stepped in a little closer to get a look down into that shaft. It appeared that near the bottom of a ten foot wooden ladder, with a couple splintered rungs I might add, the vertical shaft came to an abrupt end. We couldn't see much beyond that. It was pretty dark down in there but we could see that the ground appeared to be solid underneath the ladder.— Well, we looked at one another, each of us obviously pondering; should we or shouldn't we? The Old Man soon crouched down and threw off a couple of the boards, then he stepped down onto the top rung of the ladder. He looked at my son Phil and said; 'Wait until I get down there before any of the rest of you come down. It may be nothin' but a dead end.' He then began a slow, watchful descent on the ladder. The two boys were chomping at the bit. They wanted to go down there in the worst way! The Old Man got about half way down, looked up at the rest of us and said; 'So far, so good.' — I warned him to be careful on those splintered rungs. I told him that a fella' I once knew jumped off a ten story building and as he passed each floor he was heard to have said, 'Well, so far so good.'— No sooner had I spoken when the bottom rung gave out under the Old Man's weight. Fortunately he was only a foot or so from the ground. It looked like a rough landing from where I was standing, but he said he was okay.— He was silent for a few moments after that. The boys hesitated a bit then spoke, at the same time more or less, 'Can you see anything?' He didn't answer right away. We could tell that he was pointing his flashlight somewhere beyond the ladder. I heard him mutter, 'Damn!'— I immediately yelled down; What is it? What do you see? 'You're not going to believe this,' was his reply. 'There's a tunnel down here and I can actually see light way at the other end of it.' Before I could say, hey wait a minute!, the two boys were scrambling to get down that ladder. They reached the Old Man in a heartbeat. Young Phil shined his light toward the tunnel and then took a couple steps in its direction. 'Let's go', he insisted. I guess I kind'a drew the line at that point, at least for myself. I had all the confidence in the world in the Old Man in that he would protect my son from disaster. I knew also that we had come here to do some exploring and I wasn't about to spoil the excitement for either of the boys. I did tell them that I was a little concerned and that I thought it better to remain where I was. I figured that if anything did happen, like a cave-in or something, I would be able to go for help. The Old Man asked me to walk back to the campsite and grab a lantern for their journey. He assured me that everything would be okay. He promised to have the young explorers back in camp by lunch time. I was back in five minutes with the lantern and handed it down to Mitch Taylor. I wished them luck and then watched as the three of them disappeared into the darkness of that old mine shaft. I could hear their voices, their distinct conversation echoing back as the lantern light gradually declined from my view.— After a few minutes I could no longer hear them or see any form of light. I wanted to yell at them and make sure they were okay. I knew they would be. I was just thinking like an old mother hen. I said a little prayer anyway, then I proceeded back out of the upper shaft and hiked the trail back to the plateau of the hill where we had set up camp. I figured I had better get a fire going to heat up some lunch... ¤ — We're hiking through some of the places now I had highlighted on your map after breakfast, so I'll take a pause from the story and introduce you to some of the country hereabouts. — The trail has softened up a bit now that we've reached the actual mining country itself. A lot of sand washes out here. We've hiked about four miles from the trailhead. We've only got about two more miles, up that rocky grade ahead, to the plateau of the Black Eagle mine where we'll set up camp for the evening.— On your right there is the old Storm Jade mine. I'm not sure how it got its name, but I am told it was the first of the mines in this area. You have to hike it— The jeep trail is washed out about a hundred-fifty yards or so up there. We've never found any relics around the mine. The shaft is still open but it doesn't go back in very far. People have camped inside now and again. There's a crude fire pit and the telltale trash evidence, know what I mean? Some people who camp out here among the ruins, and there are very few who do, are either rookies or just scum-bag campers. They never haul their trash out. It can be very frustrating to deal with. After all, it's still Gods' earth. You would think that they would respect that. Then again, perhaps they don't really understand.— An old Indian once said; 'The white man doesn't know where the center of the earth is.' How very true his counsel remains. That old jeep trail to the left heads back toward Mystery mine. It's four wheel drive all the way and then some. We started up there once, but couldn't make it because of all the large boulders blocking the original trail. Earthquake rubble mostly. Pretty impassable, even with a high centered vehicle.— We've never hiked it. We're usually here when the weather is still pretty hot. November would be a good time to go up there on foot and see what it's all about.— Mystery mine. Sounds intriguing, doesn't it? We're hiking through two mining areas now; The one on your left is the Mission Sweet mine, the one on your right is the Rainbows End mine. We've never explored those mines to date either.— Somethin' for you to look forward to if you come back out here again, right? About a mile past the Mission Sweet mine, along and on around that ridge there, is the Cactus mine. There are plenty of barrel cactus, some prickly pear cactus and a few other species of cactus related plants in that region. We figure that's how the mine got it's name. Lots of cactus up there. The road is fair and it's a great area to take some photographs. The Old Man got some nice pictures of the cactus plants a couple years back. Postcard quality too. Me, I like to examine the cacti close up, at first hand. The intricate yet diverse way that God designed each one of them is within itself a miracle to my way of thinking. Their colorful and individually distinct needle patterns, their tough skin and microscopic water canals, their various blooms and their gorgeous colors are all well worth spending the time studying and admiring. I've sat in front of 'em for hours... I know that the Scriptures teach that no man or woman, in the history of the earth, has ever been physically arrayed or adorned to the likes of any of Gods' artistic plants. Not even close. But he says he can clothe our inner spirit in such a way as to be dressed more radiantly beautiful than any one of them. That's a very deep teaching to grasp. Myself, I've been contemplating it and working at it for a number of years. Working with Gods' truth in your life, correcting and disciplining yourself to be increasingly more thoughtful and considerate toward others, is said to be the only thing of real value in our earthly life. I guess that's how we become radiantly beautiful then, like the plants; from the inside out. There's so much to see out here in this desert, but I just wanted to take the time to point out those particular places to you and to give you a few highlights on them, for starters. The Black Eagle plateau is just up ahead now. One more switchback on the trail... and here we are! We'll hike on out to the edge of the plateau where it overlooks the Joshua Tree wilderness. I think, while the others hike in and set up camp, I'll go ahead and finish the story I was telling you... There's a couple boulders right over there we can sit on. You need to be able to take in the view from up here while I finish the story... ...Ah, that's better. Nothin' like sittin' on a big rock, overlookin' the high desert... a wide open view, that's for sure.— Anyway, I started cooking lunch about two hours after the rest of the guys had entered the mine shaft. Had a plump chicken on the spit. I was working at setting up the table when I heard them laughing in the distance. I can always recognize my sons' laughter but, the strange thing was, the laughter was sounding from the opposite direction from which they had entered the mine... Sure enough, they were walking up the grade toward me from the north side of the mountain. The shaft we had entered was on the south side.— When my son saw me he bolted ahead of the others, excited as could be, and explained to me in one breath how the shaft had taken them on a most hair-raising journey, all the way through the mountain! When Mitch and the Old Man arrived they both started right in as well, relating their own adventure of discovery inside the mine. They were all three talking and carrying on at the same time, and I did my best to listen to each of them. They spoke of dark, bottomless shafts, shining ore, abandoned tools, a maze of old mining car rails, coyote bones, rattlesnake skins, scurrying rats, and Mitch said they found an old grave down there... A what? I asked... 'A dead body', he replied. The Old Man then smiled and winked at me. I figured he'd been spinning tales to them while down in those caverns. 'Yep', Mitch continued, 'we saw a bone, an elbow maybe, sticking up out of the ground down in there. It was a dead body sure as shootin. Some old miner more than likely. Probably got bumped off for his gold. We didn't find any gold though.' — 'Yeah, no gold', my son echoed. I said to my boy, Perhaps finding gold is not your purpose, son.— He looked a little bewildered when I said that. 'What are you talking about, Dad?' he finally inquired. It was at that time that I walked him over to this very spot where you and I are now sitting, to see this very same view we are now viewing.— I asked him, What do you see, son? Be as specific as you can be. He sat on the boulder next to me, where you are sitting now, and looked around for quite some time before he said anything. Here's what he came up with; 'I can see forever, Dad. I see mountains that are a hundred miles away, I'll bet. I see rocks and ridges and lots of colors between here and there. I don't see any highways...just parts of the old winding road we came up.— It sure is deserted out here...and quiet... I can hear my heartbeat, Dad. Look! There's an eagle. Is that an eagle?' That's a vulture, son...keep looking, I replied. Tell me what you feel, I encouraged. The boy responded almost immediately. 'I feel full...like I'm holding my breath. What's that word you taught me?— Inspired...that's it! I feel like I could live forever. I feel peace all around me. I'm happy that I can see these things, Dad. I wish I had wings and I could fly way out to those mountains and back. Maybe I could see better from up in the air, huh?' I told him he was seeing it all from where he was, perfectly. I reminded him that God had given him eyes to see with and a heart to understand with. I told him he was doing well on both accounts, that he was indeed fulfilling his purpose. I also told him that, while he and the others were exploring the mine, I had written a song about his strong and curious spirit. 'Really?' was his reply.— I then sang it to him. Right on this very rock, overlooking this inspiring stretch of desert; Now the wind blows lonely, And you can't help thinkin', Of the things that you left behind, But you've got to gamble, On each new horizon, For the dreams and prize on your mind. Henry, Phil Henry Junior... weary ... trail worn, Henry, Phil Henry Junior, can you still keep goin' on? Now the wind blows lonely, And you can't help thinkin', Of the troubles the dawning will bring, There are those who tremble, At each new tomorrow, But there's others who play out the string. Henry, Phil Henry Junior ... weary ... trail worn, Henry, Phil Henry Junior, can you still keep goin' on? I think you'll still keep goin' on. I had tears in my eyes as I sang that song. It was indeed an emotional experience for me. In contemplating and writing it I had graciously discovered a lot of things about my own son which I had never thought about before.— He looked up at me when I finished. I could tell he was deep in thought. He soon looked back out across the desert with a smile on his face. A few moments later I could hear the steps of Mitch and the Old Man approaching from behind. 'We heard that', the Old Man spoke. 'Hell, Phil, I didn't know you could sing... Sounds like you two found a great thing out here.' Mitch had come up behind me and was taking in the view when he suddenly turned his gaze toward the Old Man... 'What did you find, Dad?' 'Well, son,' he began, 'I found considerably more than I thought I would find; after considering the wonder of all that God has made... after considering the works of man in comparison... after considering my whole life actually... Being out here in this wide open country does a number on your spirit...if you're payin' attention.' The Old Man was looking out onto this sprawling and captivating desert country as he spoke those words. Again, right here on this very spot—next to this very rock on which you and I are seated. I'll never forget it.— He then turned his head slowly and looked into Mitchs' eyes as he completed his answer; 'Illumination... That's what I found.' " ¤ I like the way Phil Henry tells that story. It always takes me right back there... and I can still see the four of us sitting atop those high rocks and pondering this great desert; searching our minds for a little understanding of the unfathomable depths of the love of the Creator who formed it, and who allowed us to see it together. The campfire is burning elegantly and night is approaching onto the desert. I like this unique time of evening, just after twilight. Dusk, I think they call it. It is most pleasant, especially out here. It starts to cool down just enough where you can get a good smell of the night air... fresh desert air... a scent all of its own. You can see a long way from up here on the Black Eagle plateau, looking out over the Joshua Tree National Monument and beyond. The varied mountains, the rocks, the plants, all shadowed under the peacefulness and beauty of this particular time of evening. Add to that the ever increasing display of stars and you will surely fall to your knees, giving thanks to the Creator for the supreme honor of the breath of life in the very presence of the wondrous things He has made.  "The voice of one crying in the wilderness"... Now John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. All of Jerusalem, Judea and all of the region around went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:1-6)
[New Birth Trail] [False Trail] [Mountain & Valley Trail] [Desert Trail] [Lake Trail] [High Sierra Trail] [Wilderness Trail] [HTTOT: The Book] [Questions & Answers] [Monthly Newsletter] [Newsletter Archives] [On-Line Church] HIKING THE TRAIL OF TRUTH Mark S. Taylor |
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