Raising Arizona

        

            This past weekend we were in Arizona for meetings Randy held with leaders and other citizens of the city of Williams, “Gateway to the Grand Canyon”. We flew from Bakersfield directly to Phoenix, which is in desert country close to central Arizona. Renting a car, we drove the two and a half hours to Williams, 30 miles west of Flagstaff, in northern Arizona. The land climbs upward from Phoenix to Flagstaff, which sits at 7000 feet above sea level, making for several distinct changes in the terrain. It is beautiful in its own unique way.

            Saguaro cacti grow abundantly around Phoenix. They are fascinating. They prickle the landscape for miles, standing like sentinels up and down the mountainsides. Because of their shapes, to me they are more like human figures than any other tree-like plant. Seeing them gives me a feeling I cannot put my finger on. I guess the picture of “sentinel” best expresses it.

            We noticed, though, that the saguaro gave way to scrubby, bushier plants as we climbed higher into the mountains. It was on the way back to Phoenix that we noted that the saguaro didn’t seem to grow above 3000 feet in the mountains, at least not in that area*.

            Higher up, bushy juniper forests literally choked the landscape for miles, which in turn gave way to tall pine trees at even higher elevations. Amazing variety of flora. Amazing mountain views.

            The trip was worth the travel, even getting up on Sunday at 4 am to be back at the Phoenix airport on time for our flight home. However, it wasn’t about the scenery; that was only a side benefit for our enjoyment. The real purpose of the trip was accomplished in the minds and hearts of the people of Williams, AZ, as Randy facilitated a Leadership Summit on Friday and on Saturday spoke to another group about Mission as Life, raising the challenge to make the kingdom of God their families' passion and live it out daily in creative ways.

            Calling people to higher ground. That’s what makes the travel worthwhile. 

*The U.S. Dept of the Interior National Park Service: http://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/upload/the%20saguaro%20cactus.pdf