In Western spiritual traditions, the word
"desert" is frequently used to describe the state of interior dryness;
that is, a condition in which the "water" of spiritual consolation,
insight, meaning, and a love that can be sensed all appear absent.
During these times, we are tempted to think we have done something
wrong, and that we are being punished for our misdeeds through this
withholding of consolation. Fortunately, the beauty of the redrock
desert country is present to help remind us that there is a quality of
loveliness inherent to the inner desert as well. The red color of the
rock makes us think of our passion for life, which is actually more
easily perceptible when we cease imbibing the soda-pop distractions of
our consumeristic, media-driven culture. Indeed, a byproduct of the
spiritual desert is a tendency to become dissatisfied with the
shallowness of these societal substitutes for true spiritual
nourishment.
The adaptations of desert plants also teach us in their own way the means by which we can thrive in the spiritual desert. For example, the Yucca plant is able to conserve water because a thick, waxy covering coats the narrow, spiky leaves. In addition, the leaves are shaped to direct rainfall and dew to the center of the plant, where the water concentrates in the soil directly above the roots and then is able to percolate through.
These sorts of water-conserving adaptations can instruct us to discipline ourselves to conserve our memories of the spiritual insight we have received in the past rather than open ourselves too widely to the water-sapping emotions of excessive doubt, discouragement and self-castigation in the present. During times of spiritual drought, we are called to EMBODY these past epiphanies rather than simply FEEL them. In spiritual terminology, this is called "walking by faith"; i.e., trusting in the insight that has been given specifically to us. We might think of this disciplined attitude as an inner type of "water conservation"; that is, a conserving of spiritual water that prevents it from being sucked away by the drying winds of affliction and difficulty. In this way, we are able to survive the drought of feeling and spiritual meaning that so often afflicts us, and actually THRIVE in the desert.
Photo: Yucca plant with the Needles in the background; Canyonlands National Park, UT; December 1, 2013
The adaptations of desert plants also teach us in their own way the means by which we can thrive in the spiritual desert. For example, the Yucca plant is able to conserve water because a thick, waxy covering coats the narrow, spiky leaves. In addition, the leaves are shaped to direct rainfall and dew to the center of the plant, where the water concentrates in the soil directly above the roots and then is able to percolate through.
These sorts of water-conserving adaptations can instruct us to discipline ourselves to conserve our memories of the spiritual insight we have received in the past rather than open ourselves too widely to the water-sapping emotions of excessive doubt, discouragement and self-castigation in the present. During times of spiritual drought, we are called to EMBODY these past epiphanies rather than simply FEEL them. In spiritual terminology, this is called "walking by faith"; i.e., trusting in the insight that has been given specifically to us. We might think of this disciplined attitude as an inner type of "water conservation"; that is, a conserving of spiritual water that prevents it from being sucked away by the drying winds of affliction and difficulty. In this way, we are able to survive the drought of feeling and spiritual meaning that so often afflicts us, and actually THRIVE in the desert.
Photo: Yucca plant with the Needles in the background; Canyonlands National Park, UT; December 1, 2013
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