The bad news arrived in Grants NM, nighttime. Appropriate. In the midst of a two-week bike trip with friends, Jerry and I received word that key family friends and church members had passed. Totally separate events and people, but we each had to abort the ride. The next AM we left Mick and Tom behind and headed the over 700 miles to SoCal across the desert, with temps nearing 118. Beaten by the heat, we stopped for gas in Needles, after 455 miles, with 270 left. I remember standing on the island at the gas pump, unable to figure out where to find Jerry, unable to think clearly.
He was no different. A McDonalds across the street gave a cool respite with shakes and ice water, but after an hour we stayed overheated, with miles to go. Then I spotted a Motel 6 close by. We took off our boots, wallets, and watches, and jumped in the pool. That coolness worked for about an hour until we dried and the heat hit us again. We found a gas station with water, an hour later a rest area had a hose that drenched us. Yeah, we survived, but I learned the dangers of desert heat, the value of an oasis.
Perhaps that explains my attraction to the painting above, a gift from my friend, former fellow teacher, author, and artist Leilani Strong Smith. Entitled “Desert Oasis,” it blends the dry and sere desert with the refreshing and life-saving spring. Like the Motel Six, the gas station, and the rest area on our desert trek.
We all face deserts. Times of dryness. Being emotionally drained. Physically tired. Spiritually empty. Intellectually at our end. Beaten by the heat of pressure.
Slowly, I’m learning to rely on God for refreshing, “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams” (Isaiah 44:3-4). God knows our dryness, and provides a remedy.
That brings up two questions. What brings on dry times? I suspect that varies by individuals. For me, darkness arrives when I overthink and imagine possible outcomes, all negative. Frankly, in all my years, the fears I anticipated never arrived. The troubles and dark times came without warning. Those worries didn’t help much, they just needlessly brought me down. But we all vary, so we need to examine ourselves to find our triggers. And, they may be outside ourselves, from events and others decisions. But the dryness is real.
The second question, how do we find God’s oases, where fresh and cool spring water invigorates us? Part is merely trusting God, that he loves us, that he’s with us, that he’ll be with us. I like the verse, “you will fill me with joy in your presence” (Acts 2:28). Maybe we need to bask in his presence like Jerry and basked in the Motel 6 pool.
But again, we’ll each find our paths. For me, riding my motorcycle in the wide-open country and mountains carries me a long way. Slowing down and focusing on reality helps.
However we enter the deserts, it’s up to us with God to find oases. Let’s do it.
Kick Starting the Application
What are your deserts, and what makes you vulnerable to them? Do you have a strategy to find your oases in your deserts? How do you intentionally involve God? How does he bring refreshment to you?