Taking a ride in a hot air balloon is an amazing experience. This is a photo from our trip to Albuquerque 3 years ago. Other than an occasional blast of propane it is so quiet and peaceful. And the views!
I can’t think of another activity (involving movement) that is as peaceful. Maybe floating in a canoe down a lazy river. These experiences emphasize the benefit of taking time to relax.
The flight from Chitina to McCarthy was about 30 minutes long and was filled with one amazing view after another.
Glorious are you, more majestic than the everlasting mountains. Psalms 76:4
You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.
Psalms 65:9
This is a photo of Root Glacier joining with Kennicott Glacier (in Wrangell-St Elias National Park). This was the view from our flight from Chitina to McCarthy. Specifically, you see the terminal moraines of these glaciers. It may look like just dirt, but it is actually a mixture of dirt and ice many feet thick.
It boggles my mind to think how glaciers have formed the valleys at places like Yosemite and all over Alaska. Great change often happens at such a slow pace that we barely notice it.
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. Psalms 95:3-4
His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. Psalms 97:4-6
(Photo: Sunrise over El Paso)
Marylynn and I just got back from a trip to Utah. This photo was taken on flight out. We were able to visit 5 National Parks – Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands and Arches.
We feel so blessed to not only visit these parks, but to be physically able to hike several miles each day and to have each other to share the experience with.
This photo was taken flying over Provo, Utah. The snow capped mountains create a stunning visual. What strikes me most though is the river traversing through the mountain ridge. How does that happen? Geologists probably have a good theory. Whatever the explanation, I’m sure you have to go way back in history for it to make sense.
Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy history much when I was in school. I certainly enjoy it much more now. In large part, that is because I want to understand why things are the way they are now and I recognize that you need to go way back in history for an understanding. I’ve learned a lot over the past 3 weeks. History that isn’t taught in schools. Experiences that others have had that I have not.
I pray that each of us will have the humility to listen and learn.
This photo was taken on a flight out of Chicago earlier this year. If you look closely, you can see the top of Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) sticking up through the clouds.
A number of phrases come to mind: the tip of the iceberg, up to my eyes in (fill in the blank), struggling to keep my head above water, lost in a fog. It strikes me that all of these have a negative connotation. There is something inherently frightening about darkness and not be able to see.
There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the house tops. Luke 12:2-3
This was a view from near the top of amount Washburn in Yellowstone. The Grand Canyon is seen crossing in the center of the photo with Yellowstone Lake behind it. In the distance, you can see the mountains where the Yellowstone River begins. It was literally breathtaking, but some of that may have been due to the hike to over 10,000 feet.
It’s an incredible feeling, having such a vantage point. Very different than what you would see from an airplane. In fact, we flew directly over Yellowstone as we were traveling home. From far away, such on a plane, everything looks very two dimensional.
Signs Along the Way 