Have U Dreamed at the Joshua Tree?

Welcome back to the True Measurement of Wealth!

Since our last set of footprints together, I added to my most important data set and KPI since retiring to focus on giving back to make our world a better place. Check the beauty, mystery, and something very special that moved me to keep doing the good work for our world of Joshua Tree National Park off the list.

For each of you that also love #gettingoutthere to breath the air and burn the images of sheer beauty and wonder on your eyes, heart and soul trekking the world's most coveted trails and high peak treasures, have you been to see and #dreamforawhile at the Joshua Tree?

Wendy and I finally made it to the high desert to see one of America's true national gems in early March. As always, it was a refreshing spin through my original 1987 vinyl that forever stamped the iconic lyrics and timeless music of arguably U2's finest work The Joshua Tree that got the juices moving this morning.

In the book Into The Heart: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song by Niall Stokes, U2 bassist Adam Clayton explained the significance of the song's desert setting: "The desert was immensely inspirational to us as a mental image for this record. Most people would take the desert on face value and think it's some kind of barren place, which of course is true. But, in the right frame of mind it's also a very positive image, because you can actually do something with a blank canvas, which is effectively what the desert is." [1]

The lyric, "I stand with the sons of Cain," refers to the biblical Cain in the Book of Genesis. One of the descendants of Cain, Jubal, was the first ever musician. According to the Genesis account, he was the "father of all who play the harp and lute." Quite fitting for the boys from U2 to "stand" with the father of music! [2]

While every song on The Joshua Tree album moves me, it was Bono's worldly anthem In God's Country that explored the state of late 1980's American culture and politics that had me dreaming of something far better for not only my brothers and sisters in America, but throughout whatever politics and culture have become in your little corner of our fragile world.

Inspired by the Statue Of Liberty in New York City and other iconic places on a planned trip throughout America, Bono was concerned that the American Dream was being threatened by shady politics. In 1987 radio interview, Bono explained he was also addressing Americans' tendency to align themselves with old political ideologies instead of coming up with new ideas. "I thought, put off the old, put on the new," he said. "Where are the new dreams - where's the new dreamers? And, 'we need new dreams tonight' is the line. I wonder where they are. I want to see them." [2]

If you've been to Southern California to see the desert foliage and tall palms of Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park, my hope is these images will renew that feeling you had the first or last time you experienced its beauty. If your footprints have never visited this magical place, put it on your bucket list. We were lucky enough to see the desert "all dressed in ribbons and in bows" along with the largest snow storm in the park since 2018! Enjoy...

As these memories take me back to so many feelings and thoughts I had walking through the desert, it reminded me that U2's trip to this special place was the inspiration for Bono's lyrics that encourage us all to remember that "naked flame" of America's Statue of Liberty burns bright as a beacon of "hope and faith through her vanity" for all with "sad eyes" from hunger, lack of acceptable shelter and clothing or experiencing the "crooked crosses" of political persecution in their homeland.

In God's Country - U2 on The Joshua Tree

Desert sky

Dream beneath a desert sky

The rivers run but soon run dry

We need new dreams tonight

Desert rose

Dreamed I saw a desert rose

Dress torn in ribbons and in bows

Like a siren she calls to me

Sleep comes like a drug

In God's country

Sad eyes, crooked crosses

In God's country

Set me alight

We'll punch a hole right through the night

Everyday the dreamers die

See what's on the other side

She is liberty

And she comes to rescue me

Hope, faith, her vanity

The greatest gift is gold

Sleep comes like a drug

In God's country

Sad eyes, crooked crosses

In God's country

Naked flame

She stands with a naked flame

I stand with the sons of Cain

Burned by the fire of love

Burned by the fire of love

The band's original video on YouTube [3] provides a wonderful and moving 2:57 minute visual of the struggle, determination and dreams of so many to be In God's Country bit.ly/3JuxJP2

Won't you please take a quiet moment this weekend to sit, think and #dream of a better place where regardless of the color of your skin, where you were born, what god you pray to, who you vote for this year, who you love on or how much money you have, you will be #burnedbythefireoflove to help a brother or sister in your world this coming week because that is what we are all called to do!

And if you need a place to get inspired for your commitment, I encourage you to plan and make the journey to the desert of Southern California and find a Joshua Tree that moves you to go out and make our world a better place than yesterday!

If you've missed any of the True Measure of Wealth's previous editions, you can catch up at the bottom of this post.

Until our next set of footprints are made...

Brian

[1] - U2 into the Heart : The Stories Behind Every Song - by Niall Stokes Jan. 1, 2001

[2] - In God's Country by U2 - Songfacts

[3] - In God's Country Original Video by U2 - VEVO