Shining On Us

I tried my best to prepare for our trip out west. I studied maps, websites, travel books, and talked with folks who had been there.  You still can't do it all, and it would not be right to have everything pre-planned.  When we got to the Grand Canyon, we rode the buses to the different lookout points, went to souvenir shops, etc.  Somewhere in the goings, we heard folks talking about seeing the sunset on the Canyon.  We had already scheduled to go to IMAX and see a movie about the Grand Canyon in the next door town of Tuscuyan and we really wanted to do that.  We did and on the way back, we passed a lot of cars leaving the Park that had stayed for the sunset.   I told Dawn, "we watched it on the big scene and they actually watched it."  But the movie was big, good, and very informative about the discovery of the Grand Canyon and we don't regret it.  However, we then wanted to see the sunrise.
Dawn and I got up at 5 AM to see a 5:30 sunrise and went outside to stand on the rim.  Our hotel room was about 30 yards from the rim.  Several others were out there in shorts in 40 degree weather waiting.  They stood in silence with their cameras, some nestled up, and some alone. Then the sun came over the Canyon and the shadows started moving with every upward motion of the sun.  It was beautiful and breathtaking.  On the way back to the room, there were 5 elk eating on the grass between the hotel room and the rim.  We stood within 12 ft. of them.  A neat and memorable experience.

Let me tell about something greater.  I found it this morning in Ps. 67:1- May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us.  He shines on us.  That is even more beautiful.  The Lord shines down on us.  Not only is the hot Mississippi sun beaming down on us on an August day, but the Lord beams down on us.  That is enough to get you going. Why does He beam down on us?  Glad you ask. Verse 2 tells us- so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.  He beams on us so that the testimony of our faith may be known to all we come in contact with.
That is not only a great relief but an opportunity for us to thrive through.  
So, dear Lord, beam today in us and through us, and let your name be praised!!