Cartwrights Go West Day 2 - Summer 2014

6/22/2014

Yesterday, we walked from our hotel, The Lexington, to the foot of Snow King Mountain. We played on the playground there that included bouldering rocks that we climbed a bit while staring at the top of the mountain. I saw a few people hiking to the top along a trail. I knew none of us were going to make it to the top that way, at least not without needing to recover for the remainder of our vacation before making the trip back down. That left the ski lift as our only reasonable access to the top.

Only, I wasn't thinking that was such a reasonable option for us. I'd never been on a ski lift. And I don't mind saying, that's the case because the idea of a chair dangling from a cable rolling high above the earth for a 1700 foot climb into the sky has never seemed like a well thought out plan to me. But the rest of my gang, they were in line buying lift tickets. I figured it might have thrown them off if I asked the operator when the last time one of those chairs fell out of the sky, so I kept my fears to myself and bought my ticket.

It was every bit the nightmare I thought it would be climbing to the top. And every bit the relief when we planted our feet on the top of that mountain.

What I didn't anticipate, though, was the feelings I would encounter in the view at the top. Breath taking is an overused statement, mostly because people who proclaim it usually have plenty of breath, but that wasn't the case with me yesterday. Around so many turns in the trail we walked on the top of Snow King Mountain were scenes I could have never imagined. Beyond that, I was getting to witness Katie photographing pictures she'd only dreamt of capturing, and our boys seeing things for the first time they never knew existed, advancing their imaginations lightyears.

As we walked along a colorful stretch of the trail, I told the boys they were witnessing firsthand why I am so sure of the God our family worships. The bible tells us God's plan was his creation would fill us with awe and we would reflect that awe in praise to him. I certainly found myself doing that yesterday. I was reminded as well that we were commanded to take care of his creation, lest it lose its beauty and power to lead others to marvel at his handiwork. As I stared out at the snow covered peaks touched by so few humans, I was challenged to think harder about how I treat my little corners of God's creation, and filled with dreams of the day when God will restore his creation back to its original beauty.

Can you imagine spending eternity walking around corners taking in sights you'd never imagined. After yesterday, I can.