This is Balanced Rock at Big Bend NP. Well named, although Balanced Boulder might be more accurate. For perspective on size, I could not touch the rock when I was standing under it. How did that rock wind up there? Unlike the formation with the same name at Arches, this is clearly not just the result of erosion. It sure looks like it came rolling down and wedged itself into that position.

There are a lot of things in life that leave us wondering how they came to be. I see many people with infections who want to know how they got that infection. More often than not, I have to admit that we have no idea. Not knowing can be frustrating; I think it exposes our vulnerability. It also reinforces the knowledge that we don’t always get what we want.

Ignatius of Loyola taught that we should seek neither health nor sickness, wealth nor poverty. Rather, we should seek only that which draws us closer to God.