The Grand Canyon of Life

How life is dependent and connected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I rode across a Painted Desert plateau between the sandstone towers, through the passing shadows of the rolling clouds above and upon a cliffs edge I did come. I looked over the edge of the cliff and there it was, a canyon, a canyon so grand. It felt as if the whole world was hanging on by its fingertips, gripping the edge of this canyon trying not to be pulled down into its depths. It looked as though the universe could slide over the canyon’s edge, fall to its bottom and the mass of it all would only raise the canyons floor half way up to its rim.

 

I looked back across the plateau from where I rode and the distance of it ran into the horizon. I looked closer at the rocks, which form the canyon’s walls, each larger than the largest of buildings. I focused in on one giant rock and there it was, I had to look closely to see, a tiny, delicate, yellow flower as small as your finger tip, growing out of the tinniest crack. I saw tall, strong pine trees that seemed to be balanced on thin air dotted along the canyon’s walls, their roots were reaching out like arms grasping for something to hold so that they wouldn’t fall to the bottom, as I looked closer I saw the tiny fingertips of the roots laced into the same tiny cracks.

 

I looked across to the canyons far border and the distance of it met the western horizon where I could see the colors of all creation spilling out of the sun and dancing along the canyon’s rim to the north and to the south as far as my eyes could see.

 

Just out of curiosity I began to pull on one of the tiny yellow flowers. I wanted to take with me. It had roots a thin as thread and as I pulled against these threads, sand and gravel and even rocks began to fall from all around me, toward the canyon’s floor and the flower was no looser than it was before I pulled on it so I left it be.

 

I looked up into the night sky and there it seemed as though all of the heavens, made of billions and trillions of stars, were gathered above this one spot. I began to realize, just how small it all really was, even though, at first, it seemed so much larger than life. I looked at myself compared to all of this and there I was, as small as a grain of sand walking only one foot at a time across this great land of wonder and awe.

 

I realized that I was master of none and came to know that a necessary piece of it all, equally should each of us be in this land called life, a place even grander than this canyon called grandest of all.

 

Then I saw how this all worked so well, everything in balance and everything in the glory of its own self. I saw that every piece added to the giving of strength and life of every piece that it touches on every side and if one has to do more than its share, it will grow too week to hold on.

 

I could see that if even one root or one rock or even a single grain of sand, did not do its part in any way, it would fall from the structure, fall to the bottom like a fall from grace. While the others around it would give twice as much and work twice as hard to fill its place. When too many don’t do their share a whole section of the structure will tumble and fall, innocent and all.

Author's Note

Just some of my thoughts and experiences from one of my many trips to the Canyon.

Reviews

[MoriartyMesa]

The wind screams and the mountain never moves. My blood knows that land, and a walk in the sun is what is needed, to understand it. Birth of my people. Carry to bones of a one loved one in that sun, dance the dance that the erath askes of it. and you will know. But you do.

[Distantview123]

A thoughtful, contemplative piece, and a well-written one. We are all just one single piece in the jigsaw of creation. We all have our place, but we are nothing on our own. A piquant write, inviting the reader to think! ~ Robert.

[Pryde Foltz]

The piece is very well-written. I like its message--as I see it--we are but a small thing in the great scheme of things but each everyone of us is essential as we grow and spread our roots. Very nice.

[Lydia Shutter]

I believe those who travel learn things they never could in any book or lecture hall. The personification and imagery in your words is stunning. "I could see the colors of all creation spilling out of the sun and dancing along the canyon’s rim to the north and to the south as far as my eyes could see" Breathtaking. You brought us to the scene....and made me want to visit the Grand Canyon someday! Wonderful writing. Lydi**

[William J. Marsh]

I study archeology and anthropology and have done research all over the southwest. If you have not been to the Grand Canyon, let me say it is "a life changing adventure" and it would be a crying shame to miss out.