Lost

Lost in the middle of nowhere has a romantic feel to it. Not in the sense of love, but in the sense of adventure, escape from daily life and mystery.

“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.”

— Henry David Thoreau

Man Needs Colors

At the Valley of Fire in Nevada the rocks are amazing shades of brilliant red, some almost pink in color.

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Some of the mountains of red sandstone can easily crumble to the touch while others have lasted for thousands of years.

Scientist suggest the Aztec Sandstone formed 150 million years ago from shifting sand dunes.

The park was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1968.

The park in its brilliant red has reached record temperatures in the summer of 117 degrees.

Record lows have bottomed at 12 degrees during the winters.

The average temperature in the summer is between 100 and 105 degrees (June, July and August). The average winter low is 38 degrees in both December and January.

“Man needs colour to live; it’s just as necessary an element as fire and water.”

— Fernand Leger, French painter, sculptor, and filmmaker (1881-1955)

The Joshua Tree

A tree of twisting and turning with roots that grow deep into the desert inching along for water that other plants cannot reach.

The tree has leaves that stab like little daggers.

The Joshua Tree is named after the Prophet Joshua from the Bible. Like the tree, Joshua was known to be a man of strength. He was the leader of the Israelite tribes up until Moses died.

The trees only grow in one place... The Mojave Desert. That massive land area consists of 47,877 square miles and is the driest desert in North America.

Amazingly, the Joshua Tree can survive for up to 1,000 years.

The English name of Joshua means “Yehoshua” in Greek. The word Yehoshua means Yahweh in Hebrew and “Yahweh is Salvation.”

“Desert sky, dream beneath the desert sky. The rivers run but soon run dry. We need new dreams tonight. Desert rose, dreamed I saw a desert rose. Dress torn in ribbons and bows. Like a siren she calls (to me)”

— U2, Joshua Tree Album - Song: In God’s Country

In the song that was written by lead vocalist Bono, the desert is used metaphor for "spiritual drought".

New Treasure Found

Going home with new treasures on the same grounds that Jesus walked... In fact, only about 100 yards from where he rose again.

Perhaps this dumpster holds more treasure, curiosity and magic than others in Israel?

“Children make you want to start life over.”

— Muhammad Ali

A Sea of People in Old City Jerusalem

It was a sea of people around every corner in Old City Jerusalem. A mixture of tourist and locals going about their daily chores of shopping, sightseeing, selling and more. 

Jerusalem is the most visited city in Israel. About 3.6 million people visit the city annually.

Conversations in the Old City

In the Old City of Jerusalem you see shoppers making their way home from a day of purchases, you see beggars asking for change, you see the aged sitting in chairs along the streets talking, laughing, smoking. You see life, some of which resembles the way life may have been in the late 1500's.

Today, Old City consist of an estimated 27,500 Muslims, 5,681 Christians and 3,089 Jews.

The area is mixed with different religions all living together. Sometimes they live in harmony and sometimes they don't. It can be a mixed bag of rest and fighting. The United States Department of State reports, "Jerusalem has been assessed as Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution"

In a May 2018 edition of The Guardian, Harriet Sherwood wrote, "Christians in Jerusalem’s Old City say their presence at the geographical heart of their faith is under threat from intimidation and aggressive property acquisition by hardline Jewish settlers."

Life. It can be different from what we think depending on where we stand.

Celebrations of Lag BaOmer

Jewish men and boys laughed jovially as they took part in the celebrations of Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer count.

It happened in May of last year (2018) and Bonfires were lit throughout Jerusalem as part of the celebration.

This particular event I photographed was at a Jewish school. In Israel, it is celebrated as a symbol for the fighting Jewish spirit.

A Jewish Night in Israel

2018: A Jewish night in Israel marked by a celebration.

"A mother understands what a child does not say."
-Jewish Proverb

Caesarea Philippi near the Syrian and Lebanese borders

Strolling through the ancient town of Caesarea Philippi near the Syrian and Lebanese borders you will find seven pagan temples. The cave pictured above was nicknamed the Gates of Hades, also known as the Gates of Hell. Creepy would be an understatement.

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The Tomb Temple of the Sacred Goats

In 220 BC under Emperor Elagabalus, goats were sacrificed as part of rituals. The bones of the goats were then buried inside a rock building that once stood on the grounds. The tomb for the animals was called, “The Tomb Temple of the Sacred Goats.”

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Elagabalus was said to be one of the most corrupt emperors in Roman history. Bloodshed was common under his rule. Upon becoming emperor he took the name “Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus.” He was called Elagabalus after his death. He was 14 when he became the emperor and was remembered for not only bloodshed, but also sex scandals. He was 19 when he died.

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A column from The Tomb Temple of the Sacred Goats

Just Listen

He could have talked for hours, never asking me for a penny. It was as if his sign was a disguise for friendship or connection. I simply tuned in at the right time. 

One of the things he talked about was his injured leg. He told me that he got bit by a spider and the aftermath landed him in the hospital.

Today, the spider bite is healing. However, he still has trouble walking for long distances as the pain radiates from the outside of his skin inward and down to his foot. 

“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”

— Bryant H. McGill