I grew up in southwest Wyoming (Rock Springs to be exact) – the land of cowboys, cows, sheep, and ranchers (not farmers, mind you). There is a rich culture in Wyoming of all things western. This culture is a part of my heritage. In fact I still own a pair of boots and a cowboy hat, both black of course.

I grew up on the edge of the Red Desert. According to www.reddesert.org, “Wyoming’s Red Desert comprises over six million acres of vast open spaces and spectacular vistas… Its emptiness and incessant wind can overwhelm visitors at first…”

Six million acres – 6,000,000 acres that is almost 10,000 square miles!

Can you picture the state of New Hampshire with nothing in it other than sand, sagebrush and vistas?

I often think of the Red Desert when I see this sculpture.

The End of the Trail

Can you imagine crossing 6,000,000 acres of nothing on horseback? What would that be like? As you look at this man and his horse and you see the exhaustion – what emotions does this raise in you?

Does this emotion change when you hear the title of this sculpture? It is called “The End of the Trail.”

The End …of the journey …the adventure …the treck …the odyssey …the end of the trail.

It is over.

A fellow blogger, Brian Mashburn, wrote this week about a mountaintop experience he had recently with his creator. In Brian’s opening thoughts he mentions the title of a book, The Solace of Fierce Landscapes: Exploring Desert and Mountain Spirituality.

The tag-line caught my attention – exploring Desert and Mountain Spirituality. I am still grappling with the concept of mountain spirituality, because I have more experience with desert moments (desert, not dessert – well I have a few of those as well…).

Perhaps, it is because I am more comfortable with desert wanderings. There is something about mountaintop experiences that I don’t trust in myself. I have a lot to learn from Brian and others in regards to listening for/ to my creator. That is a topic for a different blog entry.

Back to the desert…

Have you visited and personally witnessed the emptiness of a real desert? How did it make you feel?

Have you ever experienced the barrenness of a spiritual desert? How was it the same? How is it different?

Now look again at our sculpture. I believe this may be what I look like at the end of my spiritual deserts… journeys… trecks…

My physical body is exhausted and barely hanging in the saddle. I’m beginning to believe that I will not make it another step. There is at least one difference in my life from this sculpture - I don’t believe that my traveling companion looks like this horse. While I believe that God empathizes when I suffer, I also believe that He doesn’t have to endure these journeys the way I do. I don’t imagine His head hanging low at the end of my various trails. I believe that He most likely resembles a proud father at graduation.

So, why does this sculpture intrigue me so?

One reason has to do with courage and accomplishment. Whatever this rider had the courage to endure, he has overcome and has reached his destination. As a wise man once said, “It is finished.”

I also believe it is because when I have experienced the end of various trails, unlike my body, my spirit doesn’t look like this horse and rider. As I begin to realize that the desert is coming to an end, my spirit begins to soar higher that it has before. I am reminded of God’s gracious Spirit that has guided me through this life changing desert.

At the end of the trails, or trials, of life I find myself reminded of the prophet Jeremiah. In chapter 2, Jeremiah shares with us his message from God,

“And the word of the Lord came to me [Jeremiah], saying, Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says the Lord: I [earnestly] remember the kindness and devotion of your youth, your love after your betrothal [in Egypt] and marriage [at Sinai] when you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.”

The Amplified Bible Jer 2:1,2

God believes that Israel’s desert experience was the honeymoon of their relationship!

The 40 years in the desert is the HONEYMOON?!? I can promise you that Heather would not have been very pleased with two weeks of barren emptiness for our honeymoon.

How is it that God can have this perspective? Allow me to attempt an answer with a question.

What is the purpose of the honeymoon?

Is it not to increase intimacy and connectedness?

It was through the wilderness wandering that God and Israel rekindled their intimacy. Israel was completely reliant on God in the desert. It was impossible for them to take care of themselves they had to lean on God!

I do pray that we all experience more mountaintops, but may we also experience increased intimacy with our Creator during our desert moments. Much like Israel’s sandals, clothes and Manna – you will notice that our rider’s horse did not wear out or quit.

It is my prayer that when we find ourselves exhausted at the end of our trail – that we discover solace in our newfound intimacy with God.

Happy Trails to you and yours!