Photo by Lacza: https://www.pexels.com/photo/canyonlands-national-park-17140472/
An Unexpected Road Trip
It started with a simple invitation: “Do you mind driving back to school with me?” I thought about the long drive through the Western desert in the hottest part of the summer. I thought of all the things I had already committed to do that same week. I filed it away as something to think about later. Then the request came again, and I realized this is an amazing opportunity to get more time with my oldest, an opportunity that becomes harder to find each passing year for any parent.
But then a focused two-and-a-half-day drive to Phoenix became an ‘opportunity’ to take in a couple of national parks and do some camping. Wait, what? This was starting to get out of hand. But the desire for connection overruled my normally steadfast commitment to comfort, and off we went.
On our list of destinations was Canyonlands National Parks. I had read a book about a guy who lived remotely as a ranger in this 500 square mile park. It was fascinating, so I felt I had ingested the gist of the place, what more was there to know? But hey, we might as well drive through.
On our third day of driving, we were finally winding up the road into Canyonlands. We reached the plateau, hit the visitors center minutes before it closed, and then headed to the canyon rim. When we inched up to the edge, it was an experience I’ve had only one other time: standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon. Much like then, this place was so huge, so overwhelming, so majestic, so varied, there was no way to take it all in. How can such a place exist? How could we drive for hours and see none of this until right now?
The Awe of Creation
John Piper makes the point that no one goes to the Grand Canyon to contemplate their own greatness. Standing on the edge of such a vast place leaves one feeling rather meaningless and small. Yet it also creates a sense of wonder and awe that God our creator could accomplish something so overwhelming, even though on the scale of creation, even the Grand Canyon is relatively meaningless compared to just one star, let alone billions of galaxies.
September Memory Verse
This month our church-wide memory verse is in Colossians 1:16-17, the key phrase being, “for by Him all things were created.” As we studied in John 12 this week, God is sovereign, He is in control, and He created all things for His glory and for our joy and wonder in Him, “all things were created through Him and for Him.”
As you meditate on his power over creation, let that also bring you the comfort of knowing the same one who carved the canyons has control over every situation you encounter this week. Keep that in mind as you pray for loved ones, as you seek to share the Gospel with those who do not yet know him, and as we seek to share the love of Jesus with all of Southwest Louisville.