Grand Canyon and Slide Rock

What a day of adventure and of staring fears head on day 3 was! We got up, and got rolling, OK a little later than planned but still, we rolled into the Grand Canyon just in time to be the first seated by the windows overlooking the canyon at the El Tavor restaurant for lunch. We ate then explored the top of the canyon, took some beautiful pictures, and saw some Native American dancing. Hopefully you’ll be able to see some of the videos from this!

The Grand Canyon is amazing- indescribable really so I won’t try too hard. It was amazing to stand over this giant fissure in the earth and to hear, feel, and smell the wind come swooping through. After marveling here for awhile and walking around, we headed to Slide Rock State Park and then Sedona. If you are familiar with 89A, the road heading that way, then you are probably thinking- WHAT were those girls smoking when they planned to drive an RV that way? Hopefully again, you’ll be able to see the video. Nicole was an amazing driver- I think she may have been a Buddhist monk in a previous life! She did beautifully and we arrived at Slide Rock.

Now comes the terror for me. Slide Rock is a natural water slide, and you can sit and slide down the rocks made by water gradually wearing away at the rock. You have to climb up and over the slippery rocks to get to the beginning and I was terrified. I was more afraid though of not doing something because I was afraid. Luckily Katrina and Nicole were both patient and quietly supportive and gently encouraging and I made my way up the rock! It was fun- and, beautiful, which I was able to notice after getting past the terror!

What a day. We drove on to Sedona which was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, then back up 89A to camp. You know, we’ve been paying attention to the news coming out of Minneapolis at the churchwide assembly and as I reflect on this day and the work that they are doing, I pray for open hearts and minds that the Holy Spirit might blow through in new ways and I pray for the courage to face what we are afraid of, and to do it together.

Places where I encountered God today:

-The beauty of rocks of every sort- Grand Canyon, Sedona, and the sliding variety

-the gentle and supportive hands of good friends and their voices of support