May 13

   Dedicated to God as a Nazarite from his birth, he made the vow his own in a life-long consecration. His dress was that of the ancient prophets, a garment of camel's hair, confined by a leather girdle. He ate the "locusts and wild honey" found in the wilderness, and drank the pure water from the hills.

          Desire of Ages, page 102 from the chapter, 'The voice in the wilderness'

     Even when your diet is simple you have to recognise it takes an unusual character to enjoy locusts and wild honey even if that is all there is available. Locusts could be just that, a clean and edible insect. They could be carob pods. Take your pick, one is bitter and the other wriggles. No thank you, neither is first choice on a fine dining menu.

     What could be the reason for such dedication? There are many children brought up on a good Adventist vegetarian diet who at a later date choose a different way of living.

     The point here is that John, ‘made the vow his own’. At some stage John took the lifestyle he had become used too and decided that he preferred the desert to the diner.

     His parents must have made devotion to God a really attractive proposition. Is that what you do for your children?

So now Bryn takes us on a side step with his song choice for today, ‘O happy day’ by Jotta A. Please click on the picture to listen