Here, There, & Everywhere Desert diary from Wednesday, March 03, 2004 We have been living here in community for 23 days now and yet it only seems we’ve moved in yesterday. Continued packing, sorting, unpacking and packing again and the farming out of all (or most) of our possessions have kept us from being able to feel “settled in” to a pattern of life here. But no matter, because I am loving every day of this adventure; the high’s and low’s, the minor frustration of tripping over boxes and stuff in my way and even the unsettledness that keeps me from “seeing” (more with spiritual eyes than physical) this community and feeling around for solid ground. It feels much like when someone hands you a shaker snow globe thingy and you hold it in hands watching the snowing swirl-swirling snow going round and round and waiting for the white moving curtain to settle to reveal what surprising characters you will find standing there in their places. That’s a bit how I feel but no matter because slowly I will discover where I am at underneath all the unsettledness and have the time to take long looks around (and to see what we’ve gotten ourselves into!...Chuckle) But today I don’t wait for all that to be totally over before I make an early morning visit to the crosses. D.Mo(as our sons have lovingly called David for the past 15 years or so) has said he’s there every morning between 6:30-7 am or so all this Lenten season. So I go but today he is a “no-show” but no matter because it is fitting today that I be alone to pray, it being my first time at the crosses since we’ve moved here. And how absolutely wonder filled to get up early to be there/here. This is something to become a regular reality in my life here at Desert Rain. I have been longing for almost a year now to be able to regularly occasion these times with You here at these crosses, Lord, and You have made and are making it a reality. This morning March air is chilly and a cold brisk whips across my face and down the hood of my thin red sweater but no matter for in my solitude at the crosses Your presence so immediately warms me to my deepest heart and a peace fills my longing soul…and You know, and I tell You the things I so long for. Thank You for meeting me there in solitude and here amidst strewn boxes and paper stacks and everywhere in this glorious desert. Sister Linda