Crossing Arizona

Today’s journey was so different from yesterday’s that it was hard to believe that just 500 miles separated the day’s starting points. We began the day driving across the Navajo Indian Reservation in northeast Arizona. The landscape was barren – rocks and scrub brush. The journey was not pleasant because everywhere we looked we could see the poverty of the Indians who lived there. It was a sad sight to see.

At noon we reached Grand Canyon, and it was as beautiful as I had remembered from my last visit in 1986. The boys said “wow,” as the view from toe rim takes your breath away. We had a good time taking pictures and listening to the many languages spoken by the people around us. There were clearly people from all over the world gathered to see this sight. At the first lookout spot on the southeast end there is a metal sign with this engraved into it: “All the earth bows down to you; they sing praises to you, they sing praises to your name. Psalm 66:4”

I don’t think that even a professional photographer could capture the true beauty of this place, and my own photos here are a poor representation of the grandeur of this place. If you are ever in this area, you should visit! I’ve been here three times, and I will probably be back again.

Driving south from Grand Canyon (I learned today that it is not “the Grand Canyon” but simply “Grand Canyon”) we had great views of the 9,000’ mountains in the Flagstaff area. I have always been facinated with this mountain range i it started way back in high school and even got me thinking about attending Northern Arizona University for awhile before reality set in and I stayed in NY. I'm glad that my parents never stopped me from dreaming about the west!

After reaching I-40 just outside Flagstaff, we turned west and headed for California. It’s funny to see the I-40 signs here, as I live just 3 miles from this interstate in NC. We are in a desert area with many rocky hills and mountains looming in the distance. We are just now entering CA, and we are about to witness an incredible sunset. I’m writing this from the back of the car as the boys drive. As usual they are talking about things related to cars, and having a blast being together. They also really like being able to legally drive 75 mph! God has been good to me; I have a great feeling of contentment right now.

The marker at Grand Canyon got me thinking – If I were able to place a marker at Grand Canyon, what would it say? I think it would say this:

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord
Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
And extol him with music and song.
For the Lord is a great God,
The great King above all gods.
In his hands are the depths of the earth,
And the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
And his hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship,
Let us kneel before the Lord our maker;
For he is our God
And we are the people of his pasture,
The flock under his care.
Psalm 95:1-7