Pilgrimage West
Week Five
Sacred has been described as “what is worthy of our reverence – what evokes awe and wonder in the heart – what when contemplated transforms us utterly.”
Such is the journey of this pilgrim – gazing in awe and wonder at the grandest of canyons (Grand Canyon, North Rim), I could only soak in the sheer vast landscape that defies the senses, awestruck that our Creator could be so imaginative. Layer upon layer of features that, while highly individualistic, together form a merging of shapes and colors that paint a surreal scene that stretches beyond the limits of our vision…
That’s the way life is for us, I think, when we are able to reach towards our full humanity – our imaginative Creator somehow shapes us all to be unique, to include different features / sizes / shapes / colors, yet when we are able to form meaningful community, when we are able to love freely, when we are able to abandon fear, we come together in intended relationships that allow us to shine in transforming brilliance far greater than any individual light. Diversity allows true community to develop – the uniqueness / value of each individual lights the way for community to be illuminated. True God- intended community stretches beyond the confines of our vision, a shadow in the distance, wavering and shimmering, like an oasis desert mirage.
Bristlecone pines grow just below the snowline at Great Basin NP – some are over 5,000 years old. They are gnarled, twisted, tenacious trees – clinging to the rocky ridge, ferociously holding on to life, looking down from their hallowed heights century after century. One of the predominantly twisted trees was named Adversity – reminded me of the church, hanging on sometimes by a thread, weathering the storms humanity create, century after century, living patiently on nourishment and sustenance it cannot provide itself…
"The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time." Henry David Thoreau
I’ve been fortunate to have been several caves over the years, but none that made the words of Thoreau come alive more than Lehman Cave (Great Basin NP). The features were beyond what I could even begin to dream – this cave is famous for its shields, which form from both the top and bottom of the cave…
Yellowstone NP is the oldest of our national parks, and with good reason. Vast, other worldly – steam rising from vents / geysers, prolific wildlife, canyons, waterfalls… - a totally awesome place, as son Daniel would say. My daughter Sarah Wright and Daniel’s girlfriend Katherine Clemans joined us for this part of the journey…it was wonderful to share a portion of this journey with them, although their presence reinforced my desire to face east with immense longing…
Sufis have a saying – “to see with eyes of the heart”. I pray that it be so in our lives, as we gaze at the created wonder that surrounds our communal life together – may we be in awe and wonder and reverence – may be transformed completely, may we be freed to love as we have been loved, as we journey to see with eyes of the heart.
