Favorite Place

Thank goodness there are places in this world that speak to us.  Perhaps the places that speak to me are not the same as those that speak to you.  But, I sincerely hope that everyone can recognize and listen when they encounter such a place.

 Waimea Canyon speaks to both Tammy and I and it draws us back over and over again.  Pictures do not do it justice and are but a shadow of what we experience.  Yet, the pictures are a window that allows us to recollect and imagine the conversation with nature we had while we were there.

Waimea Canyon is not the only place in this world that speaks to the two of us.  Many of the places that do are not nearly so grand and they hold their beauty in completely different ways.  Often, those places are subtler.  But, there are times when we need the big show to come along and remind us to listen a bit more carefully.  We are awed to silence as we walk to the railing and look down... and around... and we find ourselves paying full attention.  At last.

Sometimes we get discouraged when it seems that other people don't see or hear when they walk up to those railings and overlooks.  One person came up next to us and gushed, "That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!"  They took a quick selfie with the canyon in the background and left after what amounted to about a 10 second visit.  Another young lady complained to her mother and (presumably) her grandmother, "I can't get service!  I want to talk to people.  I don't like it!"  She proceeded to turn her back to the canyon and stare hopefully at her phone, moving around to try and catch a signal while the other two tried to enjoy the view.

Then, someone appears that restores our faith.  They walk up and audibly gasp.  Then they stand, dumbstruck, while the canyon tells them stories of grandeur, beauty and wonder.

How long did it take for these lands to build up, with countless eruptions of volcanoes and periods of calm between?  And then how long to wear down, so we could see the beautiful bones of the earth, still able to sustain life?

Right now, all we need to know is that it took as long as it needed to so it could be here to speak to us.  We just need to open up our ears to listen.