Texas Canyon

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. (Hebrews 11:8-12 ESV).

There is a great group of rock formations in southeast Arizona called the Texas Canyon. The picture here is of one known as “the Whale.” You can easily see a whale rising from the depths of the sea and breaking the surface for air in it. There are many others in this state park that are so lifelike that they seem to have been sculpted. You can easily pick out the formations of the “elephant,” “dog,” and “dinosaur.” I’m told there always seem to be new “sights.” The park recommends ending the excursion with looking across the top of Texas Canyon to see what appears to be the outline of a human face that is looking toward the heavens to see God. This outline changes but the face always is looking to God. It is a great reminder that we should always be looking for God and anticipating God’s presence in our lives. During this season of Lent we look forward to the greatest gift of all, Jesus dying for our sins. While this is not unfamiliar to us, it is new every day in so many ways. I think it is so easy to mistake our relationship with the Lord as one that remains static. It is not at all. It is dynamic, ever-changing in his revelation of himself to us for each moment of our journey. The only thing that remains the same is the surety of our destination. We will all end our journey in heaven; however, we are constantly surprised by the path taken to get there. The wonder of change ought to be an inspiration to us. To think that the Lord is constantly revealing another part of his nature and character to us is wonderful. It should be one of our goals to discover the depths of his grace and mercy with fresh eyes each day. Sometimes a new look will appear from unlikely changes in our path, but they will always be for our good. There will be always be the comfort of the familiar and the excitement of something new with our eyes on God. Perhaps that‘s why I enjoy sitting on the deck in the evening and watching the sunset over the hills in the distance. It is always different and the same. It is different because of the changes in the sky; but, it is the same in that it is always God’s doing. It reminds me of how great he is and how much I can trust him. How about you?