A 'holy encounter' in a California desert cave

At breakfast this morning my friend Eric handed me this newspaper story. Inside a cave high on a cliff in the Owens Valley desert north of Los Angeles, the Rev. Brad Karelius struggled to find words to describe "a life-changing holy encounter" he had there.

Surveying the chaotic landscape of dormant volcanoes, lava beds and snow-capped peaks outside, the Episcopalian priest and philosophy professor said, "It evoked a serenity that was a gift. It was as if I'd entered a sacred space that changed me."I must have carried the memory home," he added with a laugh, "because people said I was a lot easier to get along with after that."

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-beliefs23feb23,1,6455047.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Those of you who know me (David) already know that I have been going out into the desert to seek the Lord with men of God since 1986. Mr. Kareluis is a relative newcomer to the desert places and has decided to write a book about his experiences.

Here are a few pics of our Desert Ministry taken over the years: