andreas canyon

Thankful Thursday: An oasis in the desert

At first glance, the desert presents itself as a broad expanse of sandy nothingness, pockmarked by a few tenacious plants. You might see a predatory bird overhead; you might see a lizard or snake, scuttling over sun-baked rocks in search of shade. But otherwise, the place seems desolate and uninviting.  

 
Dangerous, even.

 
But when you look closer, a doorway reveals itself…

 
And a host of life forms, once invisible, come gradually into view.


 

And if you listen carefully, you’ll hear the pulsing sounds of water, coursing through the seeming stillness. 

 
Taken on its own terms, the desert is a beautiful place–its oases, especially. They’re the stuff of legends and life metaphors, history books and sacred texts. Here, mirage and reality morph into one, and nothing never happens. 

Not shaken, but stirred

Yesterday afternoon, my husband and I were hiking along the San Andreas Fault in the Coachella Valley Preserve. "Wouldn’t it be weird if the Big One hit, " I asked, "right this very minute?" 

We laughed together, as if dismissing an absurd thought. And tra la la, we continued on our trek.

On the way back to Orange County, we stopped an appliance store. Our clothes drier bit the dust last week, and we needed a replacement, stat.

A cluster of salesmen greeted us at the door. "Did you feel the earthquake?" one of them asked.
 
We stared. "Are you serious?" 

"Dead serious."  Arms waving wildly, they described the swaying lights, heaving floor, and toppled shelves.

We burst out laughing. Gallows humor, I guess.

The earthquake was on a different faultline, but close enough. In retrospect, I’m surprised we didn’t feel it. Whether it hit while we were hiking or while we were stuck in traffic, I don’t know. But it’s certainly a wake-up call!

I’d venture to say that most SoCal residents are complacent about earthquakes. It won’t happen today, we think, and not in our backyards. But Mother Nature operates on her own timetable, doesn’t she? We have to meet her on her terms. Yesterday’s episoe was a healthy reminder that we’re just guests–with day passes–on her beautiful but unpredictable playground.  

Earthquake news aside, Easter weekend was wonderful. I emerged from "my" oasis with a renewed sense of peace–and fresh energy with which to tackle my revisions.

Inside the Andreas Canyon oasis (Colorado Desert)

Joshua Tree National Park (Mojave Desert)

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Oasis Revisited, or where I’ll be this weekend

When your body’s tired and your spirit’s weary, where do you go to seek renewal? Sometimes I look for peace in quiet meditation or prayer. Very often, I find solace among my family and friends. But sometimes I escape to my oasis, which is what I plan to do this weekend.

 

Have you ever been to an oasis? A real one, that is? When my husband took me hiking in Andreas Canyon several years ago, I saw the metaphor right away. 

In the middle of a scrubby wasteland, lush greenery rises from the desert floor.  
 

  

An outcropping of boulders and palm trees forms a steeple above the entrance. 

 

Rustling vegetation and a burbling wellspring sing a convocation: Come in, come in…everybody’s welcome.

Until I witnessed it firsthand, I never could have imagined such a place existed. Surely this must be some of what the Israelites experienced when they reached the Promised Land!

An oasis is a peaceful place in which to commune with nature–or to go inward. It’s a spiritual refuge, offering each visitor a special message and benediction. I hope your weekend is equally restful and restorative, and that you’ll find your personal oasis.

P.S. Don’t miss Afraclose’s King Cake celebration. She’s lined up some great entertainment–plus, you could win a fabulous prize!
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In the desert, an oasis

When your body’s tired and your spirit’s weary, where do you go to seek renewal? Sometimes I look for peace in quiet meditation or prayer. Very often, I find solace among my family and friends. But sometimes I escape to my oasis, which is what I did this past weekend.

 

Have you ever been to an oasis? A real one, that is? When my husband took me hiking in Andreas Canyon several years ago, I saw the metaphor right away. 

In the middle of a scrubby wasteland, lush greenery rises from the desert floor.  
 

  

An outcropping of boulders and palm trees forms a steeple above the oasis entrance. 

 

Rustling vegetation and a burbling wellspring sing a convocation: Come in, come in…everyone’s welcome.

Until I witnessed it firsthand, I never could have imagined such a place existed. Surely this must be some of what the Israelites experienced when they reached the Promised Land! An oasis is a peaceful place in which to reconnect with nature. It’s also a spiritual refuge, offering each visitor a private benediction.

 
ETA: My heart (and my prayers) goes out to the victims of the devastating cyclone in Myanmar.