When I visit a new place, I always like to think I can take a part of it home with me. Whether on vacation, traveling with a friend or just going on an overnight adventure, I feel the need to remember something from the experience or culture. When I visited the desert, I had no idea just how much I would bring home with me, and how applicable it would become.

The very first thing I noticed was the landscape. I really had only seen pictures of it, and it was even more breathtaking in person. The colors, the horizon, the plant and animal life. Every direction I turned had something completely different to offer. Learning the terminology was different too. I now can tell you what a mesa is.

While I expected to see new things and experience a diverse culture, what I didn’t expect was for a whole bunch of personal issues to either be resolved for me or be brought to the forefront. I had no idea God would use this trip where I was supposed to be serving others, to serve myself as well. I have a few important things to share which I learned about myself, some people I had known for a long time and some people I just met.

I am always surprised when I do something well that I have never done before. I can serve the homeless, and I can do it well. The first time I went out on the bus to take Jesus and lunch to the people on the street, I was a little timid. Then I stepped off that bus and I felt like I was having an out of body experience. I knew there would be hunger. I knew there would be smells. I knew alcohol was a huge factor. I knew cleanliness and hygiene were an issue. I forgot I was dealing with people, until my feet hit the pavement and I was face to face with a man and woman who were just like me. They were just like me. I was so surprised. They spoke to me as if I were their friend. They reeked of alcohol, and they spoke of their hunger and their sore feet. They were worried about their family. They were worried for one another. They knew who Jesus was, and they asked if they could pray with me, for all of us.

Wait, what?!

I thought I was supposed to be here ministering to you…and you want to include me in your prayers today? Of course, instant tears for me as she took my hand and we circled up, bowed our heads and prayed.

As I walked away, I reflected on that moment. Maybe God brought me all the way to the desert for some ministry for myself. Maybe I needed something I wasn’t getting at home in my comfy chair in the middle of the “auditorium” in my lifelong church. Maybe there was a much bigger picture I didn’t know about because no one had shown me before, and I didn’t know to look for it.

The rest of the trip I marveled at everything we did, everything we saw and everything I could experience. I reflected in my journal the reality that at any point in my life I could become homeless. At any point in my life I could lose all of my worldly possessions and be without the “things” that make up a huge part of my life. Would I be so committed to Christ that I could look at a stranger who has come to feed me and say “can I pray for all of us?” Would I know in my heart that regardless of circumstance, God is in control?  Do I know those things now?

The weeks following were an exhausting mix of conflicting emotion for me.  I kept thinking about those street people and what their future holds in the desert. I kept remembering the sights and sounds of them praying for all of us, like we were old friends who had come home again.

I kept thinking to myself, what is it I can do to ensure my walk with Christ is going to be so good, that no matter what happens, I turn to Him in time of need? I started making changes, a little at a time. I changed some habits, I became almost picky about the messages that I was taking in and I decided to pray for new direction. I had felt a prick in my heart for true spiritual growth and I was ready for the next step. I had some more to learn, I always do, but I felt this one experience in an unexpected place would lead me in the direction God wanted me to go.

Join me next time for the second part of this story, Three things I learned in the Desert.