It’s not easy, riding the unlovable/lovable ungainly beasts. I’ve had college students write about camels traveling desserts (sic), which still makes me laugh.

It takes concentration riding camels because we’re continually pitched from one direction to the other and in constant danger of falling off.

They’re called “ships of the desert” for a reason. Some people do get sea sick, and I understand why. Last January when my travel team stayed at a camel ranch in the Negev Desert, one woman chose to dismount her animal and walk back rather than complete the one-hour ride.

I’m amazed that long ago wise men from afar reached Bethlehem on camels after swaying and bumping across trackless desert sands as they were led by the patterns of the stars overhead.

Get too close to camels and they’ll spit. They try hard to keep people from mounting them for rides if they can. But if you master getting onboard, you’ve secured transportation that will help you cross impossible burning sands that few humans could master on foot. I’ve ridden one and am glad for the experience. The photo from that ride inspired the cover of my newest book, A Traveling Grandma’s Guide to Israel: Adventures, Wit, and Wisdom.

My favorite scriptures involving camels are in Genesis 24. Rachel voluntarily waters all the animals of unnamed servant who’s on a quest to find a bride for his master’s son. Google says camels “can drink 53 gallons of water in three minutes,” so Rachel’s strong arms accomplished a major task. In return, those same beasts carried her back across the desert to her bridegroom to fulfill her destiny to birth the promised son crucial to scripture’s divine plan.

Most of us occasionally need to cross deserts. When that is necessary, I believe the Lord provides some form of ornery yet capable beast of burden for us to recognize, mount, hold the reins, and thank Him while completing the journey.