Some Concluding Thoughts

Through 8,500 miles, 2 oil changes, 80+ miles hiked, countless hours spent alone and thinking, I could say so much about this past month. In some ways it might seem like it was all about the places I went and saw. I feel like an advocate for travel, the outdoors, for America. I've posted way too many pictures - my hope was not necessarily to show off "look what I'm doing", but to inspire others to get out there and try new things. To go where the road has not led you before. I'm inspired by pictures this way, so I try to give back accordingly. The pictures speak for themselves, so go see things!

However, the biggest thing I take away is the time spent with people. These times by far brought me the most joy. The time spent alone was great, and probably much needed. Time used to step away from my circumstances and realize the abundant blessings in my life, time to refocus and realign the path I'm on, time spent to ponder God's mysterious creation, time spent to ponder God's words. These were all great, but experiencing them alone was not where I felt the fullest. The alone days were not what I would consider my favorite moments of the trip. Although I would not trade them for anything, I think they offered a great contrast.
My time spent with people - my brother, friends in different cities, even strangers turned friends - was rich. Full of laughter, accomplishing things together, bonding, sharing stories. Comparing that to the alone journeys makes you realize how much less fulfilling alone is. When I left California, after being surrounded by 10 people for a whole week, it was really hard to hit the road again knowing I'd be by myself for the next 4 days. That to me says "work at those relationships at all costs".

Now hopefully this can be applied to living in Knoxville. Just like most people, I'm tied into multiple communities of people throughout weekly life - whether it be friends, coworkers, church groups, etc. So its time to give to those groups abundantly, whether it be time or efforts or whatever else, knowing the fruit of those relationships will be way better than going it alone.

Desert Places

It turns out there is something to be feared more than a storm on the prairie - a storm in the desert. Not only are the rain and lightning significantly stronger, they throw in swirling dust and tumbleweeds. I was driving along I-10 through New Mexico and I began seeing some signs I had never seen before. "Caution: Zero Visibility is Possible"; "Caution: Strong Crosswinds Area"'; "Caution: Dust Storms Next 10 Miles". They seemed interesting, but I didn't make much of them until I encountered what they were warning about. Once the dark sky on the horizon touched the road right in front of me, it was all a mess. The temperature dropped 30 degrees in under 2 minutes (no exaggeration). Dirt kicked up everywhere, the rain made me stop in the middle of the interstate (so did everyone else), and once I actually got going at about 20 MPH, I thought animals were running right by me as I saw dark objects flying by in the rain. I later figured out they were actually tumbleweeds. I managed to take this picture right as I was slowing down before I ran into the storm. That's rain and dust down there.

But I also confirmed some other thoughts about the desert. 1) It is remarkable in its own right, but I could never live there; 2) It is wild, maybe even vicious; 3) Of any geography, I think it offers the best sunsets. Better than over water, mountains, or the plains, the desert sunset is remarkable. I had to watch most of the sunset through my rearview mirrors as I was driving east, but it is something to behold. This is just a photo I took with my iPhone while stopping to get gas (I was too lazy to put my camera together), but every desert sunset I've seen is like this or better.

I started my drive through the desert on my way out of California on Tuesday afternoon. Drove all the way to Phoenix that night, where at 10 PM it was still over 100 degrees, and when I left at about 9 AM it was already over 100 degrees. Then from Phoenix I took I-10 through Tucson and El Paso. I wanted to take I-10 to see Saguaro National Park, which is just outside Tucson. I have to visit all the national parks after all. Although it was cool to see some of the giant cactus, this may be the only time I intentionally make a stop here...

So the desert is all-encompassing in some ways. Terrible, frightening, and powerful, but with its own beauty. Spending a little over 2 days driving through the desert, I can't help but think of Israel and their plight in the desert. I've grown to identify with Israel so much through my twenties - 40 years of wandering. At least that's what it feels like sometimes. The constant rebelling against God, things turn bad, asking "where are you God??", and then deliverance. I began reading a book recently and liked a line that read something like, "God never promised absence of trouble, but he does promise deliverance from trouble." Just like Israel, although you wander, there is a promised land.
It's difficult to go back and look at these personal deserts, but also much remarkable in their own right. Remarkable to see the things I've learned and ways I've grown in only 28 short years. Lessons that would not have been learned walking through fields of green. And that's one of the purposes of personal deserts - they are a training and testing ground for the times in better places. Where was Jesus led to in the temptation of Jesus? The desert (Luke 4). The desert reveals what we're really made of. Are you willing to give in to the harsh conditions and die of thirst/starvation, or you going to fight through to see greener fields? What is guiding you through the desert? Your own strength or something greater? I'll be the first to admit, I've tried the desert on my own strength. It resulted in such a severe fight against apathy that I nearly lost sight of any promised land. Or I just didn't care if there was a promised land. That's dangerous territory. But opening frequently this Book and the one word bookmark never would allow a complete apathy takeover.

Much like the physical desert - vicious and harsh, yet beautiful.
Through discouragement in the midst deserts, I've found encouragement in a few places. For anyone else that could use it, here are some of my favorites:
-read the story of Israel. It's such a testimony to God's faithfulness even when we are faithless
-Deuteronomy 8 - I try to read this at least once a week
-Joel 2:25-27
-Isaiah 45:2-5, with the emphasis on "treasures of darkness" and "riches stored in secret places".

I know these are all Old Testament, but it is in the Bible nonetheless. It is God speaking to His people. And are we not His people as well?

Although the desert is harsh, it produces previously unrevealed character.

So that's my preaching for the day. I would never wish the desert upon anyone, but if and when it does come, stay focused on the promised land.

From the desert I got a brief respite from the heat and dust by finding Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Carlsbad itself is a dump of a town, lots of heavy industry and mining. But there is an incredibly cool and GIGANTIC natural cave just outside the town. I spent about 2 hours wandering around in the damp, cool dark a few hundred feet below ground. It seemed like I could actually feel the pigment leaving my skin while underground. All that hard work in the California sun gone to waste!
But it was still an awesome experience. I had not been in this big of a cave since I was a little kid. I tried to take some pictures, but the lighting was often difficult.

Cave Entrance - its about an 800 foot descent into the cave floor

Crystal clear water surrounded these formations and offered some awesome reflections

This was called the "Whatle's Mouth"

This area was called the "Boneyard"

Stalactites and Stalagmites

As you can tell from the number of pictures I've put up, I was fascinated by this place. It felt like I was in a sci-fi movie. I kept waiting for aliens or Darth Vadar to pop out from behind one of these crazy formations.
At the end of all this, I hiked back up out of the cave. Most people took the elevators back out, but something about me just won't do that. It was 58 degrees and there I am sweating my butt off in a tanktop working my way up. It was funny to see people's faces who were walking down as I was going up. Several of them said things like "congratulations" or "you're almost there". I may have even heard one "you're crazy".

Ultimately, it was a really cool experience, and I would recommend to anyone next time you're in the Carlsbad area.

After hiking out of Planet X, I hit the road for Dallas, my hotel spot for the night. Not a whole of driving or scenery left after that, so look for some concluding thoughts and comments here soon.