Y is for Yucca's Valley's Desert Christ Park: A Free to See #AtoZChallenge Post

A statue of Christ with upraised arms sits atop a hillside in Yucca Valley' Desert Christ Park

I'm living in southern California this year, and decided to use my exploration of the area as my focus for the #AtoZChallenge. I'm concentrating on free to see places, though I will include locations that require a parking fee. This is the twenty-fifth post in the series.

On my quest for a letter Y post, I drove out to Yucca Valley on a sunny spring day. My target was Desert Christ Park, nestled against a hillside and established when Reverend Eddie Garver invited sculptor Antone Martin to place his works on Garver's land.

A sign near the (free) parking lot tells of the purpose and early history of the park with a poem by the sculptor, which reads:

A fellow once dreamed of a grand peaceful world
With banners of brotherhood ever unfurled,
A world that had banished its hatreds and fears,
A world freed of tensions and terrors and tears.
He fashioned an object of concrete and steel
To staunchly present his conviction and zeal;
The model he chose was the great Prince of Peace
Just standing there bidding all hatreds to cease.
Then learned to his sorrow the world wanted not
This emblem of peace in their crass polyglot,
'Oh! Peace? Well, tomorrow. Why bother today?'
At last came a parson who wore overalls,
The kind the profession infrequently calls;
He said he could place it out here 'mong the hills
With nature's fine backdrop, the grandeur that thrills.
More objects were added to dot the hillside
And strengthen the message that peace must abide;
And guiding all souls that are seeking the light
A cross like a beacon gleams out of the night.
The folks built a chapel for those who would wed
To make it impressive when 'I do's' are said.
We hope your best wishes will ever attend.
The while we shall labor with joy to the end.

The result is a park with statues portraying various scenes from the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. I appreciated the message of peace and hope, and would recommend a stop if you are in the Yucca Valley area.