When we were planning our trip to southern Utah, I kept seeing pictures and videos of a slot canyon called “Antelope Canyon”.  It is right on the border of Northern Arizona and Southern Utah in Page, AZ.  I was fascinated by the absolutely unique formations and colors, and learned that it is one of the most sought after, iconic sites for photographers because of the ever changing light and textures of the slot canyon walls.  For me, there was something about it that really spoke to my heart.  I put it near the top of my list of “must sees”.

The route we chose to Page led us through a mesmerizing stretch of wilderness area called the “Vermillion Cliffs”.  As we drove along, it was mid afternoon and the sunlight was lighting up the rocky cliffs, shining them into a brilliant pinkish-purple color.  Near the end of the cliffs, there are a collection of high cliffs that just take your breath away with the majestic shapes and colors.  It’s as if God put an exclamation point on that spot, so you wouldn’t be able to miss the rare sight.  I could have sat there in the truck staring at that view for hours.  I still recall the soul-healing view to this day.  Then as you drive on, you will come to the “Marble Canyon” and cross over an extremely high bridge spanning the Little Colorado River.  It’s a breathtaking view from that bridge.  We didn’t have time to stop and explore that area, but we plan to return to enjoy it in another season of life.

Arriving in Page, we located a campground that had availability, located our site and settled in.  Since it was November, we practically had the campground to ourselves.  I’m quite sure it’s a different story in the Spring and earlier in the fall seasons.

The next morning, we headed into Page to purchase tour tickets for Antelope Canyon.  The canyon is in Navajo Tribal lands, and all tours must be guided by Navajo guides.  We purchased tickets for the first tour of the morning - we’d been advised that although the light might not be the most spectacular at that time, we would be the first group of the day and would have better viewing without other groups ahead of us.  This would prove to be great advice.

The next morning we drove to the van loading site, and piled into the transport van.  There were about 15 or 20 of us, excitedly chatting with each other on the ride over to the canyon entry site.  After a 20 minute drive we arrived.  It was just a few minutes walk to the entry.  Our guide gave us a little background on what to expect inside the slot canyon, and reminded us to stick with him.  Once we were inside the canyon we understood why.  

Making our entry, we were immediately greeted with a gorgeous wall of golden and rust colored sandstone, rising to a giant natural “foyer”.  Our guide led us through the narrow passageways, lit by the openings at the top of the canyon walls.  I had never seen anything like this before in person.  The shafts of light turned the uniquely shaped sandstone walls a myriad of colors.  It felt “other worldly”.  It was so beautiful I was speechless. We stopped frequently so the group could take pictures of this amazing place.  The guide was very gracious with us, taking pictures of us on our phones, and showing us the best camera settings to get the best outcomes.  All too soon we came to the end of the trail, but the good news was that we would turn around and walk back through the canyon path on our way out to the entry area.  One more chance to soak it all in.

Still speechless, when we got back into the transport vehicle, my husband asked me “So what did you think?  Was it as good as you’d hoped it would be?”  All I could do was make a motion with my hands to my head, saying “My mind is blown!”  We laugh about that picture, still, and it’s one of his favorite pictures of me.

Food for Thought

Not everything we read or hear about meets our hopes or expectations, does it?  What a blessing it is when something actually lives up to the “hype”, or exceeds it.  David and I typically pray over the route we are going to take, and have a general “game plan” for the day including the places we hope to see that day.  How grateful we were that God surprised us by taking us on the route that followed the Vermillion Cliffs, and made sure we didn’t miss the beauty at the end of the drive.  We hadn’t even heard of the Vermillion Cliffs before, and now, the beautiful images are fixed in my mind and heart.  Our expectations for the day were not only met, but exceeded.

In Acts 3:1-20 (The Passion Translation) we meet a man who went to a place with one expectation, and left having not only his expectations exceeded, but also his whole life changed.  We are told that Peter and John (disciples of Jesus) went to the temple for the three o’clock prayer.  Arriving at the entrance called the Beautiful Gate, the Bible says they were “captured” by the sight of a particular man.  This man had been crippled from birth, and had been carried and placed at the entrance to the temple where he frequently begged for money from those entering the temple.  When he noticed Peter and John, he begged them to give him some money.  Peter and John looked the man in his eyes and told him to look at them.  The man gave them his attention, expecting to get money from them.  Peter told the man “I don’t have money to give you, but I’ll give you this - by the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk!”

“Peter held out his hand to the crippled man.  As he pulled the man to his feet, suddenly power surged into his crippled feet and ankles.  The man jumped up, stood there for a moment stunned, and then began to walk around!  As he went into the temple courts with Peter and John, he leapt for joy and shouted praises to God.”

There are some things that stand out to me in this story, worth  consideration:

1. Peter and John, and the crippled man, were all involved in a familiar activity in a familiar place.  Peter and John had gone to the temple many times before to pray, and the crippled man had been at the temple entrance begging for many years most likely.  They all had a certain expectation of what they might encounter that day, or what they might receive.  But this day would prove to be different.  We never know what opportunity God might offer us even while engaged in a seemingly “ordinary” activity or in a familiar place.  

The point is - we mustn’t waste the moments God gives us to hear His voice, act on His “nudging”, and see a life changed.  Obviously, the crippled man was healed, and now by the mercy of God was able to fully participate in life after decades of suffering.  Peter and John were given an unexpected opportunity to share the gospel of Christ Jesus with the many onlookers who witnessed the miracle or heard about it as word quickly spread.

2. The scripture says that Peter and John were “captured” by the sight of the man.  One translation says Peter “fixed his gaze upon him”.  This wording leads me to believe that they were “nudged” by the Holy Spirit to pay attention to the crippled man.  They could have ignored it and continued past the man, as I’m sure many other passersby did.  But they responded to the “nudge”, and God did the miraculous through that interaction.  Are we missing the miraculous sometimes because we are so caught up in the “ordinary”, and we just walk right by it?

3. The crippled man had begged at that gate for a very long time, I’m sure.  He had become accustomed to what the routine of his life had become.  I’m sure he had given up on having anything better for himself, a very long time ago.  He had become accustomed to living with the expectations of despair, disappointment, and depression, and was only looking for something, anything, that was enough to meet his very lowest needs.  He had no more dignity, reduced to dependency, and expecting only meager assistance, at best.  

And yet, there must have been something that kept him going back to the temple entrance, maybe the familiarity of the place, maybe there were a few who showed him some kindness there.  Maybe there was still a shred of hope hiding beneath the pain.  And it may have been that tiny shred that got him to the right place at the right time to experience the miracle of his lifetime.  He didn’t get what he asked for, he got what the deepest place in his heart longed for but would no longer even put into words.  What have we given up on, what do we no longer even ask God for anymore?

The day that the crippled man was healed would have been a very bad day for him to have given up.  What if that morning he had decided that he didn’t feel like going to the temple?  What if Peter and John had decided to skip that prayer time?  We all make decisions in the painful seasons of our lives to keep going, or to give up.  When we focus on the day we do have and stay present in it, we can watch for opportunities where God wants to work.

Tomorrow isn’t promised.  We have today - look for the God-moments to share His love, kindness and mercy.  Keep on holding His hand, and keep walking.  Today is not a good day to give up!