Earlier this week, my sister, two of my friends, and I packed our bags and headed out to Palm Springs for a girls' trip to kick off the summer. Our excursion centered around a visit to the famous Salvation Mountain. This piece of art is colorful and wacky, to say the least, so we were all ecstatic to see it for ourselves. Before visiting the sculpture crafted by Leonard Knight, I never imagined the connection I'd draw between the well-known mountain and my journey in my faith.
After his religious awakening, Knight worked to spread the message of God's love. He did not allow skeptics with a more complex perception of faith to dissuade his belief in the simplicity of accepting Jesus into one's heart. This determination to share the compassion of Christ with others originally inspired him to make a giant hot air balloon patched together with colorful fabrics and messages of God's love. After that project ultimately failed, Knight would not give up, and began working on the sculpture in the early 1980s. He used adobe, straw, and lead-free paint to form what is today considered a national treasure.
After I stepped out of the car and into the 105-degree heat, I knew that photos could not explain the mountain's beauty. Pickup trucks and hillsides were painted with vibrant colors and messages like "Jesus loves you and you love Jesus," were scattered among the entrance. Dozens of painted trees and flowers covered the mountain, and panes of glass appeared as windows throughout the separate rooms. There was even a painted mailbox at the foot of the mountain, giving the area sense of home, like I was visiting somewhere I was always meant to see.
If I visited Salvation Mountain two years ago, before the progression of my relationship with God, it would have only been a colorful mountain that could score me loads of Instagram "likes." The eye-catching patterns painted on the mountain are definitely a bonus. However, standing in front of the product of years of work dedicated to spreading the message of God's love sent chills up my arms.
In my later years of high school, I slowly discovered the fulfillment that came from accepting God into my life. My family has always been active in our Catholic faith, but until recently, I didn't fully understand what it meant to participate in a relationship with God. I can now rely on Him to help me through my struggles and rejoice in Him during my moments of triumph.
This connection to my faith gave me a purpose that is difficult to fully explain in words. My renewed relationship with God brought love, empathy, or serenity into my life. Leonard Knight perfectly translated this unending love that I've experienced in God within Salvation Mountain. If this trip impacted me this greatly, I can only imagine how much joy Knight has gifted to the thousands of other visitors.
