Finding Beauty in the Desert
I am very grateful that I grew up in a desert environment. Utah is beautiful. I was taught by my parents--by example--to find beauty even in barren places. Scattered wildflowers in a desert landscape are breathtaking--but you have to look to see them. The rock formations (even in northern Utah) are grand and awe-inspiring. Chris and I have driven together across northern Nevada so very many times. I think it's beautiful. There is always something to see, some wonder of creation, that is pleasing.
I think it is easy to find beauty in a more traditionally beautiful place: gardens, forests, lakes and oceans, places of abundance. Because it can be a little harder to recognize beauty in desert places, it is something that has given my life meaning. I am so happy that Chris finds beauty wherever he goes, as well. We had so much fun driving across the country and enjoying the wide variety of landscapes. (I admit, we did struggle to find the beauty in eastern Wyoming and southern Nevada. I'll have to try again.)
(Please, if you love the landscape of Utah, don't pretend to be offended that I said it wasn't traditionally beautiful. You know as well as I do that there are plenty of people who don't see the beauty in Utah. And if you love eastern Wyoming or southern Nevada, please take heart. I'm willing to keep trying.)
I think it's a metaphor for life, really. Looking for beauty and meaning when at first glance, something is not impressive or is even dull. Life's experiences, people we meet, jobs, service in the church--all of these things have times of amazing, recognizable beauty, and times of unimpressive dullness. But I think developing the skill to recognize beauty in desert places enriches all areas of life.
Life is beautiful wherever I am.
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