Into the desert. It is a statement that resonates throughout human history. It indicates a departure from the comfort of civilization and the safety of our homes. Heading into the desert means braving that scorching heat and imposing landscape in pursuit of something worthwhile.

My grandpa knew this. He took me into the desert, inviting me to find something worthwhile. He took me far beyond the pollution of city lights to observe the night sky through his telescope. Out there in the dark, we'd look at the moon and stars with reverence and awe. I felt so small beneath that never ending sky, and so did my grandfather. Looking through his telescope into the infinite cosmos, he often wondered if he would eventually look up and see someone much bigger looking down. 

Both my grandfather and the desert taught me how to really experience being human; to see that we are nothing in comparison to the expanse of nature and all of the stars. Understanding this was terrifying, but it was also freeing. 

So, this is your invitation to go into the desert. To leave behind your comfortable thoughts and assumptions. To leave your civilization behind in pursuit of something worthwhile. Maybe you, like I did, will begin by observing the shining stars and impossible landscapes. Maybe you, like I did, will end up finding yourself.