It has been almost twenty-five years since I was last in Phoenix, AZ. Obviously, a lot has changed in the past quarter-century, both in the city, the world, and for all of us. Heck, quite a lot has changed for me evenover thepast two weeks.
I have been attempting to fathom my response to being here, this highly improbable city in the desert. Other than Las Vegas, it is surely the most artificial place I have ever laid eyes on. The megasystem, it seems, has had free reign to build as it pleases. This is revealing. In Phoenix there is no illusion about the illusion, if one can only learn to have the eyes to see it.
Hopefully, I will have a post up about it in the next week or so.
Authenticity has all but disappeared from American life. An American life where pride is paramount and celebrated as the highest virtue…”look at me!”
While the physical deserts of old have all disappeared in the modern age, perhaps God in His great mercy and love has created new deserts for us. They are our own hearts. Christ is found in these new deserts, and there’s nothing more authentic than remaining in His presence as much as possible.
Your article cued up this search term for me “Babylon Ishtar Gate” and I summoned up an image of a reconstruction of Babylon featuring the Ishtar Gate in the foreground with Babylon in the background, an ancient Phoenix, Arizona in the desert. This stuff has been going on for a long time.
To Rise from the Ashes, First You Must Go down in Flames
Authenticity has all but disappeared from American life. An American life where pride is paramount and celebrated as the highest virtue…”look at me!”
While the physical deserts of old have all disappeared in the modern age, perhaps God in His great mercy and love has created new deserts for us. They are our own hearts. Christ is found in these new deserts, and there’s nothing more authentic than remaining in His presence as much as possible.
I'm off to look at a beautiful historic farmhouse in Maine. Stone walls, a little stream running through. The exact opposite! I pray it's "the one".
Clara
Your article cued up this search term for me “Babylon Ishtar Gate” and I summoned up an image of a reconstruction of Babylon featuring the Ishtar Gate in the foreground with Babylon in the background, an ancient Phoenix, Arizona in the desert. This stuff has been going on for a long time.