The Parker post., 1917-05-05
ARIZONA EQUAL
To HOLY LAND
GREAT SOUTHWESTERN DESERT
IS ONLY WAITING FOR THE
TOUCH OF HUMAN HANDS TO
MAKE IT BLOOM LIKE ROSE.
(Written for The Post by Charles r.
BernetZke.)

DSIHttZhOJ
Few people realize that we live in
Palestine country right at home,
of which the Bible speaks so inter
estingly. Not many have had the
privilege of travelling to that far
distant Easter-land, and at no other
time of the year comes stronger
desire deep in the hearts of church
going people-yOung and old-to see
that Holy land and to be there but
once in life, than Christmas and
Easter-time
Those who have had a glimpse
of the promised land of the Palestine
desert as it is today will agree with
me when l say that southern Arizona
and the great southwestern desert
is equal to that country in grandeur,
beauty, and fertile valleys, and only
awaits the touch of human hands to
make it bloom like the lilies of the
valley.
Of what the writer has seen of the
HOly-land, the stars shine as bright
in Arizona on Easter and Christmas
nights, while our desert moon shines
so brightly that even the desert
thrush cannot resist warbling it's
song more clearly by moonlight than
under the midday sun. And to get
out in the open alone, away from. the
noise and tumult of city strife, and
observe the silent midnight beauty
in Easter or spring-time, is bound to
bring back visions of our Redeemer
walked on sandal-feet the lonely des-
ert, in order to lift up mankind to a
higher level
Our ancient mission churches are
equal to the Palestine temples, and
those who think enough of visiting
them at least in spring-time or Eas-
terrible, will get an inspiration of
the faith our forefathers had in the
early days of the desert patriarchs
under hardship and tribulation,
making equal such long Journeys to
their sacred shrine of worship
Many speak Of the beautiful hills
OF Bethlehem and it's valleys covered
from January to April with wild
flowers, but so few people realize, or
even never have been out in the
southwestern desert of Arizona, that
from March to June, wild flowers
cover the mountains and valleys in
gorgeous profusion, in all colors of the
rainbow. Practically every desert
plant and shrub of every variety, in
Guiding the giant cactus, with it's
family, has it's blooming time and,
healing virtue, which is known
more or less to the poet and lovers
of nature.
If you wish to see the full magic
power of the deserts beauty in
springtime you must get up early,
and it seems there is no better time
than on Easter morn to journey on
the top of a mountain or a nearby
foOthill and observe the beauty of
an Easter dawn in silent meditation,
and in the spirit of vision you will
be transplanted in thoughts of mem
Ory to the Bethlehem hills of the
Holy land, and with your face turn
ed toward the east praying the
Lords prayer seven times before the
sun rises over the eastern mountain
tops. At your last prayer you are
supposed to throw a stone over your
shoulders westward, and which the
old worshipers claim will bring you
whatever your hearts good wish
may be.
And when you get your first good
vision of the Easter sun you will see
a little lamb jumping up and down
in the sun; which they call the Eas-
ter Lamb. Many don't believe this,
but those who have made the long
pilgrimage to the Holy land and
Joined in the solemn service will un-
derstand the writer's meaning.
A solemn Easter service on an
Arizona mountain top would be an
experience to be remembered forever.
Yes,
Arizona is in the Easter land!
Far may the caravans to worship go
But here at the mountain-top we
stand,
Looking away to the east to pray;
1t is Easter dawn and we've come to