Desert rose crystal – a new rock for my collection
I have a new rock for my collection – a desert rose – the colloquial name given to rosette formations of the minerals gypsum and barite with poikilotopic sand inclusions. The ‘petals’ are crystals flattened on the crystallographic axis, fanning open along characteristic gypsum cleavage planes. It was given to me by good friends Tom & Kim Balke. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote this article Tools for Prayer – Collection Rocks and I was very much hoping that on our recent holiday in Canada, I would acquire a new rock for my collection. I expected that I would pick something up on the beach that would draw me close to God. However, this precious addition has spoken to me in amazing ways that far exceeded my expectations.
These beautiful desert roses only develop in dry arid conditions. They are often formed meters below the surface, and in places that are under great pressure. Wow. What a wonderful testimony to the way that God works in all our lives. It is out in the wilderness, under pressure, in the hidden places, deep beneath the surface that God is at work forming beautiful desert roses in our lives.
May I never despise the darkness or run from the weight that stress and pressure impose. May I wait for the fruit of hidden things, the roses that God is growing deep beneath the surface.