As so often is the case, nature teaches us valuable lessons about ourselves and life. When I witness the awesomeness of nature….from grand to minuscule, I seem to always look for how this impacts my life. And, I cannot look at anything in nature and not see the Creator’s hand at work.
Recently, Entrepreneur and I visited the Grand Canyon. You may have seen some of the photos I took HERE.
The canyon hold more than just a view of a hole carved into the landscape. What struck me most about it was the stillness amidst the strength. Away from the Oooos and Awwwws of the tourists’ reactions, there is no noise. The canyon meets you in silence. It doesn’t care what your reaction is to its majesty. It forces you to remove yourself from the center of attention and focus on the connection. And that connection is to be still. Let go of the anxiety and business of life. Be still. Mindless distractions fade away. Feel the peacefulness. Be still.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
~Psalm 46:10
When I think about the violent, destructive forces that formed this beautiful scene, my mind is overwhelmed. The raging force of the Colorado River carving its way through solid rock is a visual that instills both terror and respect. So too, violent forces shape our lives in ways we may or may not realize. The solid rock was not able to stop the inevitable reshaping of its appearance. Once finished, true colors were revealed and a different kind of beauty emerged. Beauty that includes jagged, scared surfaces as well as those worn smooth by the relentless elements of nature. Beauty that changes as the sun and shadows wash over its surface. Much like us, the canyon’s beauty lies in its past experiences. Challenges, turmoil and struggle make the canyon what it is today. Our struggles, tragedies and challenges have created who we are. We should wear our scars as a sign of strength.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
~2 Corinthians 12:9-11
When the violent waters receded, it appears to have left an empty gorge. Negative space. But that space is there for a reason. Often, we feel empty, like something or someone has carved out a gaping hole in our lives. While there is beauty in that negative space, it can now be filled with something else. Gaping holes don’t need to remain empty.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19
And there within our gaping holes and jagged edges, opportunities begin. Opportunities to make life sweeter and more beautiful. Yes, it will be hard and it will seem like the odds are stacked against us to prevail. But we must always try.
As with so many other things in life, I’m thankful nature seems to always meet me in the voids of life with so much wisdom. Playing along with Thankful Thursday over at Brian’s Home.
Life is unpredictable. Entrepreneur and I are keenly aware of this. The pressures we put on ourselves in this life, like the heavy snow we had in January, can weigh us down to the point where it’s hard to appreciate and enjoy our temporary and fleeting life. Like heavy snow, we pile on expectation after expectation of what we think life should be like….what we want life to be like…what we think we need in order to make us happy. All the time chasing after the next shiny new thing in hopes IT will make a difference in our how happy and content we are with life.
We break. Our expectation that the universe owes us a happy life, filled with all things wonderful is suddenly shattered. Those tertiary things we were chasing after, thinking we were somehow owed them, disappear in a vapor of disappointment. And what’s left is the wreckage. Sometimes major wreckage.
We all have our breaking point. Many of our trees found their breaking point under the heavy snow layered on their branches. And the extent of the damage was really only seen in full after the initial assault had passed. When we try to carry the weight of unrealistic expectations, there will be a point in time where we break as well. Whether it’s expectations about relationships, job success, accomplishments or finances, we all fall into the trap of comparing our lives to others and wishing for more. And when it doesn’t happen, we break just like that weakened tree limb heavy-laden with snow.
But today we celebrate. Celebrate two years post surgery, thanking God for the tender mercies of the past and for extending his life. We have gratitude for experiencing the good and bad that intertwines itself throughout our story. Our faith has grown deeper despite the uncertainty of the future. Relationships have grown deeper despite past differences. The keen realization of how fleeting this life is on earth has grown painfully sharp.
