When my parents were driving me home from the airport when I completed my mission, I remember looking around, almost disgusted with the lack of green and the vast amounts of dirt and gravel, instead of grass and other plants. Even the noxious weed Scotchbroom would have been a beautiful sight for me. Even still, I complain about the lack green and beauty that is found in the barren desert of the Valley of the Sun. I miss the rain, the green, the life thriving all around me.
This past Saturday, I drove down to Tuscon to visit a friend. After driving for a bit, I hit the desert. The sky was clear and as blue as can be. On the horizon, the mountains rose, clearly seen because of the lack of clouds. Surrounding me was dirt, odd yellowish plants and stunted bushes. Pretty much the complete opposite of the beautiful WA-TAC. Yet...I found myself in awe of the beauty of it. My eyes were opened and I marveled at God's creations. How incredible it is that God created things that could last in minimal rain and scorching sun. Not just last, but thrive. The desert is full of life. There is a certain kind of beauty in that. Certainly a different beauty than what's found in Washington, but beauty nonetheless.
Last week, a dear friend who is still currently serving in the WA-TAC sent me an email about gratitude. Having gratitude in any circumstance. Sometimes life is like Washington. Full of blessings; they just rain down upon you! You're full of life and excitement; pretty much, everything is going the way you want it to. Sometimes life is like the desert of Arizona. Rain is scarce, so it seems like things are barren, like there's not much for you. You can't feel those blessings pouring down upon you. Yet, if you opened your eyes, you would still see the beauty. Those living creatures that are resilient and can still survive and make a good life. There are still blessings to be found; they just may not be as visible.
We must open our eyes to the goodness that is in store for us. If you feel like your life is like a barren desert right now, I promise there are things to be grateful for, still. I promise God isn't withholding blessings from you. He's simply trying to get you to look a little harder, and to see the beauty in every single day and every single circumstance.
So...I guess the desert isn't so bad. :)
