|
What
makes a desert a desert? Extensive sand dunes? A lack
of water?
Scarcity of life?
In
fact, none of these factors defines an area as a desert. Extreme
aridity is the defining characteristic of a desert.
A
desert is a place where more water is lost through evaporation
than is gained from precipitation. Typically, most of the
world’s deserts receive less than 10 inches of rain
annually, because high mountains or trade winds block clouds.
Many
desert dwellers have developed interesting ways to cool off
and to conserve water, such as the saguaro cactus of the Sonoran
Desert and the kangaroo of Australia’s deserts.
The
intense aridity that makes deserts hostile to life has created
a unique environment for spiritual growth and renewal. Blue
skies, bright light, dry air, wide-open vistas, harsh landscapes,
and isolation help to make the desert an attractive place
for reflection, contemplation, meditation, and prayer. Stars,
sun, moon, wind, and rocks are one’s companions in the
desert.Today
the desert areas of the Middle East are often associated with
war. However, for most of the past 4,000 years these same
deserts have provided inspiration to great Western spiritual
geniuses, such as Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, John the
Baptist, Jesus, St. Anthony, St. Benedict, and Mohammed.
Find
a desert to visit and experience the desert’s life-changing
spiritual power for yourself!
|
