There have been many times I have prayed with Gerard Manley Hopkins “O Thou Lord of Life, send my roots rain.” Often I feel this way after a particularly busy time of work or even after intensive times of Christian activity. There seems to be a spiritual depletion factor that often catches me by surprise and I need the nourishment of divine springs of living water.

One winter a number of years ago, I was filled with a deep discontent and longing whose aim I could not identify. After several weeks of being close to despair, it slowly came to me that I was fed up with prayer as I knew it. I didn’t want to pray anymore to my concept of God—I wanted to experience God himself.

Desert times are hard to predict, and more difficult to understand. We never chose to enter the desert, more often than not it swallows us up. (I once had a seminary professor who said, dryly, that if you choose to enter the desert, you’re on a tour.)

This month on the Conversations blog, we’ve asked our writers to share their experiences, expertise and support on the topic of ‘desert times.’ Whether you’re in the desert now, have been in the past, or simply hope to shore up your knowledge of this season in order to have some discernment through it in the future, we pray that you will find something that speaks to you.

Grace & peace,

The Editors

As I’ve walked through deserts with several directees in the last few years, they always ask for ideas for staying connected to God, even a little bit. Here is what seems to work best.