I heard on the radio the other day that the average stay for a visitor at the Grand Canyon is ten minutes long. That's it. Just ten minutes. You know, look over the edge, take a few pictures, say "That shore is big!" a few times, and then get back in the car. Ten minutes.
I've never been to the Grand Canyon personally, so I can't tell you this from first-hand experience, but I would think I'd stay a bit longer than that. I don't know if I'd ride the mule down inside, but there has to be more than just ten minutes worth of awe. Then again, I realize how many times I overlook the awe that is all around me.
We had a blizzard yesterday, so today it's easy to see the awe-someness in great drifts of snow, arrayed in all kinds of geometric patterns. It's amazing to see bare ground in one place next to a drift more than five feet high. It's kind of our own miniature Not-So-Grand Canyon in the backyard. But in another couple of weeks, when the snow has melted and the ground is all muddy, I doubt I'll consider the backyard nearly so awesome.
I want to consider God as awesome even in the not-so-awesome times. He is no less incredible than He was when he created the conditions for the Grand Canyon to be dug, than He was is an otherwise-lackluster August day. He is no less incredible during the mundane, reptitious workday than He is at the birth of a baby or the healing of a sick man.
God is worth more than ten minutes.
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Trying to focus on what is important and occasionally succeeding.
About Me
- rev-ed
- I'm married with three kids, not to mention three jobs. My calling is serving as pastor at a small country church. I also work at a small-town newspaper and do some government work on the side. Needless to say, I'm a busy guy, but you can contact me at rev-ed at verizon.net
10 comments:
I've been to the Grand Canyon twice, though not inside, and I can assure you that we spent a good deal of time there. My family and I camped there for a few days and drove around the entire thing. It takes a long time.
My personal opinion is that Zion National Park, not too far from there, is much more impressive. Both, however, are must-sees.
"God is worth more than ten minutes."
Yes, Rev, he certainly is - and so is the Grand Canyon (some of His best work!) Out of all my travels to National Parks it is one of my very favorites. The first night I was there I spent the evening watching the sunset go down across the southern rim. I will simply never forget it.
As a long-time Arizona resident, I can confirm the Grand Canyon really is a gigantic hole in the ground.
Now Meteor Crater, that's something to marvel at.
We spent Christmas 2006 there and marveled at the average visit of 10 minutes comments too. After spending a few days there, I think I know how those numbers exists. There are tons of busses that come in with lots of foreigners on them. I'm guessing that the "10 minute visitors" are ones that take a tour from Phoenix, Vegas and other places and that's what their expectations are. I also noticed many people with airline type of nametags on them, so I suspect that there may be tours that include a stopover in Phoenix, quick trip to the GC, and then back on a flight home.
...and for your future planning purposes, you can only take a mule to the bottom if you are <195 lbs with all your clothes, and gear with you. ;)
last comment was mine--didn't intend to be anonymous.
That's OK, Glenn. Sometimes I feel pretty anonymous myself...
Yeah, but you can only stand in front of the painting at the museum for so long before you've seen it already, and it's time to move on to the next one.
How frequently I miss the marvelous around me! Thanks for the reminder.
Amen...it takes a lifetime to fully appreciate God and His awesome magnificence...
And we stayed at the Grand Canyon for at LEAST a half hour:-)
I have to confess that we didn't stay long when we went. We were moving across the country and stopped there. Does the blistering heat count as an excuse? :)
Seriously, your point is good. God hasn't changed, and He's worthy of every moment we can spend. Thanks for the reminder.
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