All through scripture, the people of God have found true freedom in a journey through the desert. It is a simple trajectory - the exodus, the exile, the forty days, the cross. This book aims to lead you down the lost seam of gold that is desert spirituality in the Bible. The desert makes a powerful spiritual impact on those who go there. It encourages us to realize that we know who we really are only when we have nothing. Nothing is when we sense God's presence in the awesome stars and skies. Nothing is the stunning silence of the sand dunes as it welcomes the dawning in our mind that God is real and God is good. Nothing is what we have in fierce places and dry times. But looking around the wealthy churches of the western world, we hang on to what we've got for fear that God has no more to give. We seek rational controls over the Spirit of God. Faith has become more about words than love. No wonder we are thirsty. We desperately need to recover a dimension of our faith that has been left out. If you are tired of the dogmatic pathways of religion, or if you have departed the church for fear of shriveling, this book will steer you back to the best of biblical spirituality. That is what was in mind when Moses spoke Deuteronomy in the desert, the same place where Jesus caught wind of it. This spirituality grounds us. Jesus, our role model and source, our presence and promise, is making us an offer. If we grasp this, it could open up a resource of strength and simplicity in this challenging twenty-first century. Given the number of biblical heroes whose faith and dependence on God were honed in the white heat of the desert, to those who have ears to hear, this book offers an eloquent challenge deliberately to seek deeper spiritual transformation in dry places - and not always be satisfied with a focus on verdant pastures and flowing streams, whether in our churches or elsewhere. Dr Andrew D. Clarke, Senior Lecturer in New Testament, University of Aberdeen, Scotland For many years I have been journeying with Ian in the deserts of Australia. His reflections have provided me with a fresh language and joy in exploring the landscape of my soul. As Ian says the desert is the spiritual director however his biblical knowledge of desert spirituality has deepened my experience and the richness of the blessings I have received out there. Susan Kaldor, Counsellor, Leadership Consultant, Spiritual Director, Fellow traveller I commend readers to Ian Robinson's book, and hope that many who experience the spiritual aridity of urban existence can find the water of life in the desert places of the heart. David Tacey, Professor of Humanities, La Trobe University, Melbourne Ian Robinson was the first to cross all of Australia's deserts in one journey. It was deeply transforming for all involved. Since then, he has led hundreds on desert retreats called 'Spirit Journeys' and has researched, written and spoken in many church and community settings. Ian is the Uniting Church Chaplain at the University of Western Australia, is married to Margaret with three adult children. He has an MA from Oxford University and a PhD from Charles Sturt University.
