The Grand Canyon - exploring the depths

 


 

It's a mind-boggling experience to stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon and witness the vast expanse of its depths. Millenia of erosion by the Colorado River have created a chasm thousands of feet deep and many miles across, considered one of the natural wonders of the world. The exposed layers tell a story of the history of the world that fascinates geologists. The colors and formations are so vivid and varied. You can't help but #GiveThanks for the miracle of its existence when you witness it.

However, something even more remarkable happens when you venture off one of the rims and begin to explore what's in between. For most of my life I was a rim-viewer. But during the last few years I've had the experience eight times to hike across the canyon, down one rim and across then up the other rim. You gain an appreciation for the canyon in a new way - both the vastness (22 to 25 miles across depending on the route) and the beauty, as you experience many things not visible from the rims and see them from many different angles. It's a glorious experience!

There's an important application of this experience. So often in life, we don't get beyond the surface - impressive though that surface may be. This can apply to many different things: our relationships with people, our feelings about important ideas, our political beliefs, even our religious understanding. When we take the time and effort to really get down into the depths, we often discover how much there really is that is fascinating and wonderful.

To extend the analogy even further: my experience in the Grand Canyon has been somewhat rushed - hiking fast to get across the expanse, trying to soak in as much as possible while I was moving as quickly as I could. What if I took several days, several weeks, or longer to REALLY explore the same area? Certainly I would discover additional layers of understanding and appreciation that I don't even conceive of yet.

It's a good lesson for life to regularly, deliberately choose areas where we want to get beyond our current experience or understanding and probe deeper. Take the time to really get to know a friend or neighbor. Study an idea or topic carefully, in great detail, from various points of view. Visit a place and experience what it has to offer without rushing.

Learn to explore the depths instead of just viewing from the rim!

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