David COmeau: wilderness as axis mundi

The idea that wilderness is an axis mundi is a commont theme rooted deep in Hebrew and chirstian traditions. Axis mundi is another way of saying center of the world, or center of being. The bible, both new and old testament continually highlight the relationship between God and nature.
The first example of this is the garden of Eden. In the perfect world that God created, before sin, God placed man and woman in a beautiful creation. God even wandered in the garden himself. God also used nature as a way of displaying the promis he made to Abraham. He told him that his descendents would be like the stars in the heavens.
Redicks writing also hightlighted the story of Abraham and Isaac as a example of wilderness as Axis Mundi. The Book of Exodus also has numerous examples of wilderness as axis mundi. The majority of the book is in a wilderness setting as the Israelites are lead by God through Moses in to the desert for 40 years. God also appeared to moses in the burning bush and on the mountain.
Just as God lead the Israelites into the wilderness in Exodus, He lead jesus into the wilderness after being baptized in the Gospels. Here he was tempted by the devil and therefore prepared to do his ministry on earth., Jesus also retreated into the mountains to pray to his father. The night he was to be arrested jesus retreated to the garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the mount of Olives to pray.
Today Christians carry on the practice of wilderness retreats. I went on numerous “wilderness adventures” with my youth group in high school. Youth groups often take kids backpacking so that they can connect with God in nature. Young life camps are usually situated in the mountains where it is easy to find solitude and peace and the majesty of God’s creation.