Recently, my wife and I had the opportunity to make a trip to Las Vegas for a mini-reunion with some of the folks that I had been in the Navy with. We an enjoyable time looking at the many attractions that Las Vegas had to offer and saw some amazing things. Everything in the city is built to impress. The Paris casino has a replica of the Eiffel tower out front, New York New York has replicas of the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and the Statue of Liberty. The Bellagio has an 8-acre lake and a choreographed show with fountains that shoot water up to 460 feet in the air. The Venetian has canals inside the casino with gondolas and gondoliers as well as incredible ceilings designed to look like something that Michelangelo might have created. Each casino tries to outdo the others and everything is designed to call attention to how spectacular it is. I must say that as Marcia and I walked around, we were quite impressed. While there, we also got to take a trip to the Grand Canyon. I initially debated as to whether we should go, because we were only in Vegas for a few days and it is such long drive out to the Canyon and back that it would consume an entire day. We did, however, decide to make the trip and nothing could have prepared us for what we saw. We saw the best that man had to offer in Las Vegas and then… standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon and looking out everything previous seemed insignificant. I had seen hundreds of photos and heard stories and thought that I knew what to expect. I was wrong. The sheer size and beauty of it is staggering. Over 270 miles long, 18 miles wide at spots, and over a mile deep with amazing rock formations and beautiful colors. I couldn’t help but think, “OK, God… you’ve made man to be capable of some amazing things, but you win. This blows everything else away.” Nothing I say can truly describe it properly, even photos and videos don’t come close to conveying the scale properly. The Grand Canyon was the unquestionable highlight of our trip.
While we were at the Grand Canyon enjoying the view, Marcia frightened everyone in the group. For some reason, she insisted on walking out the edge of the cliff face and then she balanced on one foot and leaned out to look down at the canyon floor 4,000 feet below. I wish that I had taken a picture of it but I was too busy yelling at her to step back. The rock at the edge was crumbling and there were high wind gusts but that didn’t matter to her… she just leaned right out over this thing and looked down. She wasn’t concerned in the slightest about what could have happened to her. You might think Marcia is just fearless if it weren’t for the following incident. The next day, while we were walking around on the strip in Vegas, we came to a nice fountain at the Monte Carlo and thought it was a good opportunity for a picture. I, being the goofball that I am, suggested that Marcia climb onto my shoulders for the picture. She took a little convincing, but she did it. During the 30 seconds that she was sitting on my shoulders, she was hanging on for dear life and shaking like leaf in tornado. Picture this – leaning out over a 4,000 foot high precipice, no problem. Sitting on my shoulders 4 feet off the ground, and she’s petrified. When I considered this, I thought… this makes no sense. Of course, I do basically the same thing with God. Marcia wasn’t scared at the Grand Canyon because she was under the illusion that she was in control, whereas she had to rely on me to keep her safe when she was on my shoulders. I am the same way. I make plans and follow through under my own power oblivious to the danger that is all around because I am in control. When I come to my senses and rely on God for help, I get nervous because I have to rely on Him. Let me ask you, where could I possibly be safer than sitting on God’s shoulders?
Isaiah 26 (New Living Translation)
4Trust in the LORD always,for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock. 5He humbles the proud and brings down the arrogant city. He brings it down to the dust. 6The poor and oppressed trample it underfoot, and the needy walk all over it. 7But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them. 8LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.
The Sojournaler 