Update on Arabah Project

For some of us, waking up in a rented Sprinter van down by the river is the realization of a dream.

Green River, Utah was the first stop in a week-long road trip to capture footage, photos and Plein-air studies. My daughter Jamie and I were on our way to the southern part of the state to paint and shoot. We are continuing work on the Arabah project; a visual and spiritual journey into the desert to provide beauty and hope for people in seasons of wandering.

We were back on the road before sun-up, eager to get farther into the desert landscape that has captured our imaginations. From Green River we headed south to Hanksville, then on to Hite Crossing, and on through Fry Canyon. We stopped for the day at Muley Point. Muley Point offers a spectacular view of Monument Valley from high above the San Juan River. That night we stared into a small fire of juniper twigs which, we were delighted to discover, light almost instantly, burn forever and smell great.

We talked about a lot of things including dreams and goals and projects (like this one) and about how to be content simply doing the next faithful thing you feel God is calling you to do. And we talked about how hard it can be to trust His leading sometimes; especially when our vision isn't clear or our dreams don't seem plausible or our work doesn't seem to be progressing the way we think it should.

"Believe and trust; through stars and suns,
Through life and death, through soul and sense,
His wise, paternal purpose runs;
The darkness of His providence
Is starlit with divine intents."

from Streams in the Desert

We spent the next couple days in The Valley of the gods before heading back north to Moab and Canyonlands, returning eventually to Salt Lake City before flying home.

Lying awake in the rooftop tent one night, looking up through the open door at a dark night sky shimmering with stars, filled me with a conflicting sense of being right where I wanted to be and longing to be home. I suddenly felt so small, so blessed, so thankful, so helpless, so loved, so alone, so far away from home. At this point we were only half way through our long-awaited trip and here I was wishing for home. I think life is kinda like that too. There is something so good right where we are. So much to be thankful for in our present reality. Yet at some deep level, we know we're on a journey, we're destined for something even greater and we long to be home. The deep quiet of the deep desert night calls to the deeper places within us. Its one of the things I love about this place.

“For all the toll the desert takes of a man it gives compensations, deep breaths, deep sleep, and the communion of the stars.”

- Mary Hunter Austin

By the time we were ready to leave Valley of the gods the next day, and head into town for a decent meal, Jamie had completed 80% of the movie trailer she was working on. She had me sit down in her makeshift studio in the van and watch it on her laptop. I was blown away. It was very satisfying to see our story coming together in this way. It's also a very special experience to work with my daughter on this project. And I love what she is bringing to it. I'm so grateful.

Our time in Utah was both inspiring and productive. We've come back with multiple studies painted on location, reference photos, footage and even more meaningful memories of time spent in the desert. It's our prayer that we'll be able to turn these images and experiences into something that can bless and encourage and refresh others.