This photo is from Arches National Park, near the end of our week in Utah. We had hardly seen a cloud in the sky prior to this day. The clouds started moving in by the end of the day and we saw little sun the rest of the week. Despite the clouds (because of the clouds?), there was a spectacular sunset this night.
This year certainly had its share of “clouds.” As we come to the end of the year, I can’t help but view the COVID vaccine as a spectacular “sunset” for 2020.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5
(Jupiter & Saturn, “Christmas Star”)
This is a photo of the Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. The distance, just above and to the right of the Arch, you can see the Washer Woman Arch (I’m not making that up). I’m often amused by the names given to natural features. I couldn’t find anything official explaining the name for the Mesa Arch, but I assume it is because the arch is on the edge of an area resembling a table (mesa, in Spanish). The Washer Woman Arch is a little bit more creative for a name. But with a little imagination, you can see a woman washing clothes in the formation.
We are called “children of God.” Perhaps an even bigger stretch of our imaginations.
This photo was taken at Canyonlands National Park on a day when visibility was extremely limited by smoke from wildfires. We had experienced this 2 years ago, at Glacier NP. But then, the fires were only 10-15 miles away. This smoke was coming from California, hundreds of miles away.
The limited visibility can seem frustrating; you can’t really see want you were hoping to see. If your eyes aren’t “open”, you’ll miss a blessed experience.
This photo was taken at Capitol Reef National Park. It was taken fairly early in the day as we were heading towards Cassidy Arch. The moon was the focus of my attention, although it is barely visible in this photo. If you enlarge the photo, you get a better idea of what I was seeing at that time.
For me, this is a reminder of how we receive God’s attention, regardless of how small or insignificant we feel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song,
and sing out your praise.
Psalm 98:3-4
(Photo: Landscape Arch, Arches NP)
On the hike to Delicate Arch, there is a small opening in rock right before you round the corner and have a full view of the Arch. This is the view through the opening, known as Frame Arch because of the striking view. It is a short scramble up several feet from the main trail, but well worth the effort.
Sometimes we need to extend ourselves a little beyond our “comfort zone” to experience some of God’s richest blessings.
Balanced Rock stands 128 feet tall. While it appears to be a balancing act, the upper rock of sandstone sits attached to the lower pedestal of mudstone which is eroding more rapidly. Eventually, the 3,600 ton boulder will come tumbling down as the erosion continues. In the winter of 1975-76, Balanced Rock’s smaller sibling “Chip-Off-the-Old-Block” collapsed. (See the National Park website for great “then and now” photos: https://www.nps.gov/arch/learn/photosmultimedia/then-and-now.htm).
Life changes and many of these changes may seem unwelcome. It requires trust that God is “sculpting” our lives into masterpieces.
This is a photo of the North and South Windows at Arches National Park. It is also known as the “Spectacles” for obvious reasons. To me, it looks like eyes. For a better idea of the size of these arches, zoom in on the North Window (on left). Impressive.
Jehovah, Yahweh, Elohim, Adonai. All names for the one God. Creator of impressive arches (and other things).
Signs Along the Way 