(originally written a couple of days ago)
We’ve been gone from Moscow for less than 10 days - and already it seems like forever. It is an amazing adventure we’re on - and we really miss our community back home. This is a transforming, and confusing, and challenging journey. And we are learning so much - trust, faith, appreciation, abundance, connection.
The landscape through which we are traveling is incredible. We left Zion National Park (in the SW corner of Utah) two days ago, and have been travelling in a northeasterly direction. When you leave Zion heading east you travel through a mile long tunnel carved into the cliff face. When you come out the other side you are already in another world - and it just continues to change and transform as you drive. The drive along Highway 12 is truly remarkable. We climbed through layers and layers of geological history as we drove past sandstone cliffs of red and white and orange and brown. By mid-day we had arrived at Bryce Canyon. Pictures cannot begin to convey the magic of this place. I really have never seen anything like it in my life. We were only there for a couple of hours, so I didn’t get a chance to wander down into the maze of “hoodoos” - but I absolutely will be back someday. From there we drove a few miles further down the road to Kodachrome Basin State Park, tucked back off the road in the midst of more cliffs and hoodoos. It is easy to see why some of the Native Americans who first inhabited this place thought these formations were people who had been turned to stone - “legend people.”
Today we continued on Highway 12 past more varied and beautiful landscapes. This is a vast and wild country. A few miles before arriving in Torrey (the town at the entrance to Capitol Reef National Park) we drove over a 9,900 foot pass, with snow still laying in patches along the side of the road. Then back down the other side and into the Capitol Reef area. It is a giant uplifted reef of red rock cliffs which stretch across the landscape. The power of the earth is in evidence everywhere we look. And tonight we are camped at the base of those amazing cliffs, amidst luscious fruit orchards originally planted by Mormon settlers.
My camera doesn’t stay in its bag very often. My “beauty detector” is almost constantly on high alert. And my soul is being nourished by the whole experience, including the opportunity to share the adventure with my wonderful partner.
On a different note, I found out today that a congregation where I was being considered for their pastoral opening has decided that I am not the one they will be calling. I am saddened by the news, since it had seemed like an interesting and challenging opportunity. And at the same time I am intrigued by what new opportunity is waiting for me that I don’t even know about yet. I remain convinced that something wonderful is coming our way. Indeed, it is already happening. How can it do anything besides continue?
As always, thank you for your ongoing love and support, and your interest in what we are up to. Knowing you are with us in spirit matters more than we will ever be able to say.
Blessings,
Roger
