In the Shade

Kelso Post Office

On our way back home from a recent trip to Arizona, we wanted to do a little exploring instead of just driving straight home. We found that there is an old Train Depot in the town of Kelso which was a little bit of a detour from our direct route along Highway 40.

Union Pacific System - Overland

Kelso Train Depot is in the Mojave National Preserve, so at this time of year (late May) the temperature was expected to be between 110-120 degrees. The Depot building is beautifully preserved and houses a museum of the area. And fortunately it is now air conditioned! We had a great time learning the history of mining, the railroad and the highways of the area from the early 1900’s, through WWII, to present times.

Kelso Depot Porch

Upon stepping back outside of the Museum, I wanted to get a picture of the building. As I stepped off of the porch, the heat immediately assaulted me. I hurried to get a picture so I could return to the shade of the porch, which ran the length of two sides of the building. It was surprisingly refreshing there in the shade of the sheltering tiled roof. Benches along the wall invited me to rest here in the shade where the brightness of the afternoon light was softened and reflected off of the polished floor. A breeze ran the length of the porch, the air cooled by the adobe floor and walls. We were in the midst of the Mojave desert, yet sheltered from its heat by the Depot building beside us, cooled and protected by its shade.

Mojave Desert

Sometimes in our life we are surrounded by desert...not always a physical one such as the Mojave, but deserts of emotional struggles, physical hardships, relational strife, depression, or grief. The Lord promises to stand with us and He wants to be our shelter, a safe haven in our storm, our oasis in the deserts of life. If you are in any kind of desert or storm, step into the shade that the Lord is offering you. Come let Him be the shelter beside you and around you!

“The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭121:5‬