dual personalities

Well, I did not cry at the Grand Canyon. And I did not cry in Monument Valley, despite a lot of teasing by daughter #1 concerning that.

But the Grand Canyon is pretty overwhelming, I must say.

“We are all starved for the glory of God, not self. No one goes to the Grand Canyon to increase self-esteem. Why do we go? Because there is greater healing for the soul in beholding splendor than there is in beholding self.”

–John Piper

I talked to my Bible Study leader, a woman in her eighties, on Sunday about our trip and she said she had been to the Grand Canyon with her husband and they had hiked from the South Rim to the canyon base. I was, like, WHEN? She said, oh, a few years ago, when I was in my late fifties-early sixties. Well, we made it to the South Rim (by train) and stayed there! The OM was really having trouble, but even so, I would not have attempted hiking. I saw three separate elderly men trip and fall and other people take ridiculous risks to take photos. I was not there to prove anything.

We stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, AZ, “where comfort and leisure await”…

…and took the two-hour and fifteen minute train ride to the canyon and back with a three-hour stopover. This was perfect for us. During that time we spent a goodly portion in the bar of the historic El Tovar Hotel just steps away from the Rim. Teddy Roosevelt stayed there.

I feel no shame about this.

We all really enjoyed the train ride to and from the Canyon. There were even cowboy re-enactors who arrived on horseback…

…and then appeared on board to rob the train. (One was a dwarf.) Lottie perked up when she heard about this development–“Wait a minute. You were robbed?! The train was robbed?”

Hokey, maybe, but enjoyable, although daughter #1 was unamused when she, of course, was singled out by the “Marshall” (twice) to engage with.

Anyway, the train is the way to go–no parking, no waiting in line, a bar car.

We had some fun on this trip, but, as always, I was glad to get back to my flyover home.

Also, if you want to help the people in North Carolina and all those effected by Hurricane Helene, give to Samaritan’s Purse.

Samaritan’s Purse is responding in five locations after Hurricane Helene left a 500-mile trail of devastation from the Gulf Coast of Florida to the mountains of western North Carolina.

• The storm hit Florida late on Thursday, Sept.26, as a Category 4 hurricane. It then tore through Georgia and the mountains and foothills of the Carolinas, toppling trees and causing severe flash flooding. The damage is historic. More than 225 people have died, with many still missing.
• We have established 3 relief bases in North Carolina and stretching into eastern Tennessee. Volunteers are also working at sites in Georgia and Florida.
• Volunteer teams started work on Sept. 30 from all six locations.

Please pray.

*Ron Swanson, “Parks and Recreation”