I have always loved the cold – and disliked the hot.
But the more I thought about it, and the older I got, I realized that I like the idea of the cold.
I like the idea of the cold – not cold itself.
(I admit the desert can get cold, but most of the time, not that cold.)
And don’t get me wrong, I love a good January trip to Lake Tahoe….
But, for most of my life, I have lived in either the desert or a close semi-arid climate.
And I have fallen in love with it.
Here are 3 reasons why.
1. It is simple.
There is beauty in complexity, and dimension, and the vibrant. Ever been to the jungle? It is alive with artistry and appeal. But there is also a beauty in the simple. In the plain. And in the muted. A solid landscape. A solid sky. There are few unknowns in the desert. It is minimalist. And it is quiet. In the stillness, it feels almost like God is pausing before he speaks.
2. Survival is easy.
Surviving in the cold is complicated. Do you have enough clothes? Too many clothes? Are you sweating? What is the best way to get dry if you are wet? Is hypothermia an issue? The desert has almost none of these issues. In the desert, there is only one ingredient for survival: Water. You have enough water – you are fine. You don’t have enough water – you are in trouble. Shade can help, too.
3. It is home.
I probably love the desert because, to a large extent, that is where I grew up. In the Middle East, I remember camels kicking up sand as they walked alongside a windy road. I remember seeing scorpions crawling across the rocks as I hiked toward a soon to be climbed mountain. Along the Texas-Mexico border, I remember trying to break a horse with my Grandfather and hunting with my dad. And in central Texas, I remember digging holes in the rock-shelf where the slab of our new house would soon go. And now, I have come to love the beauty of West Texas. (Hint: If you can’t find it. It’s usually above the horizon, not below it.)
I love the desert, but unfortunately what they say is true: You can never go home again.
Spend some time in the desert if you have never done it before.
I hope you love it half as much as I do.
