Breakthrough in the Desert
The sunrise filtered through the linen curtains in our faithful RV, the "White Whale." In the quiet, the sun seemed to whisper, "Happy Birthday." I soaked in the sunshine while I waited for my husband to wake up. Together, we planned to chase the sun all day long.
We left our campsite before breakfast and drove to Valentine, a small town on the outskirts of Marfa, Texas. Valentine is the home of PRADA, a curious little art installation in the middle of nowhere. Like most tourists who drive through the desertscape of Far West Texas, we took our picture-perfect selfies before heading back to our campsite at Tumble Inn in Marfa.
My husband knew that I had my heart set on catching a sunset dinner on the rooftop of the RV. But we only made it one mile when the White Whale broke down on the side of the road, just shy of Valentine. Rain clouds started forming, and the hope for my sunset dinner on the rooftop quickly faded away. The hours went by with no sign of help, and Valentine felt more like a ghost town.
Even stranded in the middle of nowhere, I could not be upset with the White Whale. After all, she carried our family on countless road trips over the past decade. She endured thousands of miles, gifting us with breathtaking views, from the sparkling white sandy beaches of Florida, and chugging along through the soft blue haze of the Great Smoky Mountains, and even dodging the Buffalo at Yellowstone the summer before.
Stranded or not, I climbed up on the roof, still holding onto a tiny amount of hope. Even as storm clouds rolled in, I stayed on the roof and listened to the whispers of the warm desert air. I hoped to catch a last-minute breakthrough in the clouds, and for a brief moment, my birthday wish came true.
I basked in the sunset as the sun slowly settled behind the Chinati Mountains, and then, I understood. The breakdown became the perfect backdrop for a spectacular sunset—a gift to cherish forever.
I planned on chasing the sun that day, but little did I know that the breakdown was a detour, a birthday gift that I needed to savor. The rainclouds, the waiting, and the slowing down was the breakthrough I needed in my life. In the desert, Jesus met me in my brokenness, and there, I heard His whisper. Setting me free to the things meant to be.
But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. — Hosea 2:14 (NLT)
