This is the Namib Desert. It is located in the African country of Namibia and is the oldest desert on planet Earth. It also contains some of the most arid areas on the planet. Due to the Benguela current and the dry air of the Hadley Cell, the Namib Desert receives less than .39 inches of rain annually and is almost completely barren. The Namib Desert covers over 30,000 square miles and contains some of the tallest sand dunes in the world, some of which are 328 yards high and 20 miles long. It's desolate, and it's also beautiful.
This is a Camel Thorn Tree. A fairly big Camel Thorn Tree. And guess where it's growing? In the Namib Desert. And not only is it growing, it's thriving. In some of the harshest, driest conditions on earth, this tree is doing just fine. And, while we were visiting the Namib Desert, they were in the middle of a 7 year drought. Which means that they hadn't received much, if any, measurable rainfall. In fact our guide said that they hadn't had any measurable rainfall in a few years.
So how does this tree survive here? It has several adaptations that allow it to grow in this dry climate. The light color thorns and leaves reflect the sunlight, helping to keep the tree cool. Camel Thorns also have what are called Bipinnate leaves, which can close up when hot, thus keeping them from being scorched by the sun. But what really allows the Camel Tree to not only survive, but also thrive in the desert is their taproot system. Camel Thorn Trees can send their roots over 200 feet below the earth to find deep water sources. Not only does this root system bring much needed water and nutrients to the trees, it also makes them extremely stable and hard to tip over. Very cool tree, huh?
I'll circle back to the Camel Thorn in a minute and hopefully tie all my thoughts together. But for now lets make a leap over to Advent. This weeks Advent candle symbolizes joy, and so this week I have been thinking about that word and what it means to me, and to others during Christmas. And I couldn't help but think about people I know who are personally struggling right now with grief, or illness, or a whole host of other very real and hard life issues that make having and finding joy hard. The news certainly tries to suck all the joy out of my day, not a lot of joyful stories happening there either. Joy just seems to be hard to find and hold on to right now for so many people. And yet, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 it says,
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Ok, so God's will is for us to have joy in all circumstances, but how do we do that? How do we have joy in the midst of our own personal desert, when there's no water or relief to be found? Which brings me back, sort of, to the Camel Thorn Tree and some life lessons that we may be able to learn from this tree.
The first lesson is based around location. You see, the Camel Thorn Tree's circumstances do not need to change in order for the tree to thrive. The tree never leaves the dry desert... it's location or circumstance isn't changed, and yet it has found ways to flourish in spite of the harsh environment. I think we often put parameters around joy by telling ourselves that joy cannot be had or found in our present circumstances or location. That joy is dependent upon a change in the situation. But in the scripture above God clearly states that joy or rejoicing shouldn't be tied to our circumstances.
Which brings me to the second lesson from the Camel Thorn Tree of being deeply rooted. The Camel Thorn Tree digs it's roots deep into the earth--seeking, looking, and searching out every drop of life giving water it can find. And here is where I am asking you to take a little leap with me and imagine that you and I are like a Camel Thorn Tree planted in a dry desert and that the "water" we are seeking is really gratitude. You see, the foundation of joy is gratitude.
So we need to be like the Camel Thorn Tree, and send out our roots deep-- looking for-- seeking gratitude and joy. For me, this means that I actively look for things to be grateful for. For example, during a particularly hard time in my life when I was struggling finding joy, I decided to write down 5 things I was grateful for during the day (I usually did this at night). Some days my list felt pitifully simple. It would consist of small things like noticing a pretty flower blooming, getting in the short line at the grocery store, spending a few minutes snuggling with my cat. But what this simple little practice did was teach me to actively look for things to be grateful for. And once I made that shift, my lists grew bigger, and so did my joy. It also taught me that gratitude and joy can come from small, seemingly insignificant things.
Which brings me to the final Camel Tree Lesson of stability and health. You see, not only does a deep root system bring life giving nourishment to the tree, it also makes the tree strong, able to withstand the strong winds and storms it may face. I think we often diminish the important role joy (and gratitude) plays in our lives. We think of it more as a fleeting feeling rather than a deep foundational requirement to living the full life God wants for us. In fact, there are several scriptures about the important role joy and gratitude have in a Christ filled life.
Philippians 4:8-9 states,
"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies." The Message
Nehemiah 8:10 states.
"The joy of the Lord is your strength."
and Proverbs 17:22 says,
"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
God desires that we have an abundant life. And joy is an important part of that fulness He's talking about. But like all good things, joy is something that we often have to work for. It doesn't always come easy. And it sure feels like the world ( and life in general) works overtime to steal our gratitude and joy. When my mom was fighting cancer, I know she had to work hard to find her joy. She wrote pretty honestly in some of her journals about that battle. And in spite of her circumstances, she found gratitude and joy. And that joy gave her strength.
One final note about the Camel Thorn Tree. Because they are able to find deep sources of nourishment due to their root system, they are able to flower and bear fruit in even the harshest of circumstances. And those flowers and seed pods then feed several animals and thus help sustain life around the dessert. Did you know that joy is a fruit of the spirit? And that your joy can not only be a source of strength for you but for others around you?
If you are reading this, and are feeling like you have lost your joy, I hope this encourages you to start seeking out small moments of joy and gratitude. And my prayer for you is that those small moments begin to bind together into a deep root system that provides you nourishment and strength, and that you become deeply rooted in the joy of the Lord. Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Merry Christmas to you all!
I'll leave you with a few more photos of the stunning beauty of the Namib Desert.
