Desert Coach

 Desert Markings. Follow the way they lead. Cards played and spent Across the tables of sand. A scattered deck.   Played by a fool Hanging upside down Now from a tree.   Striving to be free He drew them down Face by face into Monotony.   Water spent. The jokers turning wild And the aces picked up Tossed by the wind.   Slowly twisting downward From a branch The desert player Grasping for a final round.                          

  Desert paradox. Burn up in the blazing day, Freeze in the still night. Desert's paradox. Strange out here, How nature makes it work. Made us work too. We hauled it along. Water, firewood, More water still. Perchance we can make it Yet another day. If the water doesn't go dry And the firewood out.

  Paul out here. Desert chained. Beaten down more than any, Save Jesus. He looks around. "I see you have images to the Unknown One. Desert deliverer that you hope for." "Come closer here, For my throat is parched. Listen to my words. I will tell of your deliverer."

  Tower of the red rock falls, Plunging naked into it all. An adventure of God's own divinity. Let yourself go down, down Into the bluish foam of Your own soul's refreshment. The chilled water of psalms. Free flowing of your own body. Holy words cascading like Gentle kisses all over and Through this sacred hideaway. You yearn to stay And never leave the depths. Fathoming secrets the deeper You travel through. An adventure of caves and labyrinths. Bold and subtle all the colors of Rocks and ledges of swollen lava. Your body and soul moving downward. Enjoying earthly nature's symphony. Water and stone morning litany.

Every day now it seems we are welcomed to the cesspool of hostile and aggressive news. What years ago was mainly confined to newsprint is now coming at us from every digital direction available. Just scrolling through the headlines is enough to make you wonder if the world IS truly coming to an end. What I personally find so troubling about this trend of communication is that it is NEGATIVE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE. It does not take a degree in psychology to think that maybe this negative barrage is not good for the individual or collective mind set. Maybe it is time that we all throw open our windows and shout out to the street "ENOUGH ALREADY!"

  So many are saying that what is happening in this country is "the new normal!" I totally disagree. Since when is showing kindness and helping others not the right thing to do? Since when is social distancing the preferred way of living as human beings. Yes, we are experiencing a crisis. But what is happening today is no how, no way, the new normal.

  Sand, sun, Hardened snow, Dunes of moon and earth. The desert lands. Beckoning us to come. Love's playground.

Prophets and saints, a choice this, a desert home to make. Place of the venerable sun. Stillness and solitude all around, Settlement of the venerable ones. Psalms and proverbs to Disturb the shade, Composing all the while Till nighttime comes. Then down to bitter cold. Desert paradox. Sacred words proclaimed to the midnight heaven, billions of stars resounding them. Coyotes harkening from not far off, Stirred by the holy liturgy. They will be drifting in soon, they have a scent of it. This bread of life.  

  Leg now black and blue. Mohave rattler got you. Put lots of venom in. And you out here all alone. There are many ways to die. This is not a pretty one. Slow and you got the double whammy. Organs shutting down, And breath, You hardly have any now. Warned you not to go alone. You wouldn't listen. Told me you would be alright. I knew it wasn't true. You like to go far off, See what is beyond further still And the sun is big and hot. Got you this time. Wandering in dreams too many. And into the territory of Your rattler visitor. This place has a special name. And now you are firmly in it. Death valley.

  Monastery in the desert. Cloistered here out in the desert lands the scribes toiling day and night. Such hot days. So little light at night. Living meager. Just enough food for sustenance. And water, Flowing living waters. They anxious to save the almost lost ones. These monks venerable each one. They save the manuscripts.

Stalwart tree I was  When they hewed me down. Mighty trunk and limbs of wood When they raised me up. They planted me hard and deep. Hammered my strength to keep and hold. Placed me in the center high and bold. They hastened His weight upon me, Hoisted Him up and fastened Him tight. Secured Him on with all their might. His body struggled upon me But I stood still through it all. Felt the trickling of warm crimson drops And then a torrent of wetness coming down. Shouts of anger and chaos all around I held my ground. Then spoken upon me came forth Fervent words of promise. A gentle forgiveness uttered soft. My might frame gone blessed and free.

I made a movie once. Director I. It was in black and white. It was a love scene. Pan in on the eyes, the eyes, Such a beautiful watery hue. Now move to their faces. Locking eyes, No dialogue, Just his hand moving to her face. Now don't miss it His other hand coming Up the other side. Her face held gently now. Hold steady, hold steady, In a quiet moment they are ready. Eyes closed. A kiss. Linger with them In that kiss. Now catch their eyes this time When they harder embrace. Now pan back As they unembrace. Pan the doorway slowly As he slowly moves that way. Don't miss his face As he steady looks Back at her And goes out the door.

In the distance. Four of them crossing. Javelina. First time meeting. Not up close. Going to stay that way. Just watching a family, Day outing in the desert Moving along and further up Their mountain.