Finding God in the Judean wilderness

The Judean wilderness begins just minutes east of Jerusalem and drops 4,000 feet to the Dead Sea in a tumble of barren hills and canyons. No trees. No shade. No distractions. This is where David hid from Saul, where John the Baptist preached, and where Jesus fasted for forty days.

There's a reason the Bible's most transformative encounters happen in deserts. The wilderness strips away everything comfortable and familiar, leaving you face-to-face with God — and yourself. The Hebrew word for wilderness, midbar, shares a root with davar — "word." The desert is where God speaks.

When your bus crosses this landscape, resist the urge to nap. Look out the window. Let the emptiness wash over you. If your group stops at a viewpoint, walk away from the chatter and stand alone for a few minutes in the silence. The desert has been waiting for you.