Revelation

The sheer beauty of the desert was, for us, a revelation. Further North, across a landscape like none other on earth, we saw the evidence, polished by the sun, of an ancient society, a great culture, a great faith. In the evening we went to the church, our minds full of the images of the day. Later, facing the altar, we knelt in silence, thinking of the Moon. We knew the desert, and San Xavier, were returning our Love.

What they said

“But in the desert, in the pure clean atmosphere, in the silence – there you can find yourself.”

– Father Dioscuros

“All you have to do is contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation.”

– Paulo Coelho

“Alone in the silence, I understand for a moment the dread which many feel in the presence of primeval desert, the unconscious fear which compels them to tame, alter or destroy what they cannot understand, to reduce the wild and prehuman to human dimensions. Anything rather than confront directly the antehuman, that other world which frightens not through danger or hostility but in something far worse – its implacable indifference.” ― Edward Abbey

“This was the desert, everything all at once, whether it was needed or not. What survived had learned to save, live carefully, and keep a low profile, even appear to be dead for long periods. Perseverance and patience.”― James Anderson

“The desert could not be claimed or owned–it was a piece of cloth carried by winds, never held down by stones, and given a hundred shifting names… Its caravans, those strange rambling feasts and cultures, left nothing behind, not an ember. ”― Michael Ondaatje

Conclusion

In conclusion, the desert revealed to us a breathtaking beauty that left us in awe. As we ventured further North, we were captivated by a landscape unlike anything else on this planet. It was here that we witnessed the remnants of an ancient society, a remarkable culture, and a profound faith, all beautifully polished by the sun’s rays. In the evening, as we visited the church, our minds were filled with the vivid images of the day. And later, as we knelt in silence facing the altar, our thoughts drifted to the enchanting Moon.

Photo: San Xavier del Bac church, founded in 1692, © 2014 Honoré Dupuis