Free Access: Faith Friday: 1500 miles of beauty

Sometimes, unexpected opportunities await you. When a good friend of mine in Washington State told me he was moving his son and his son’s fiancé to Phoenix, it sounded like an amazing journey of which I wanted to be part! When I asked if he could use some company and another driver for the trip, it didn’t take him long to say “Yes!”

So, it happened! A week ago, Sunday, I flew out to Seattle, and the journey began. I don’t know if you’ve ever visited the Northwest and Southwest parts of our country, but they are truly breathtaking. Especially when the sun is shining on snow-covered mountains.

Early Monday morning, we climbed into the U-Haul truck and started on our way. The plan was to take two-and-half days to make the trip. Just minutes after leaving, I could not have been more excited to see snowy mountains shimmering under the brilliant sunlight. I was the “Navi-guesser-copilot” for the initial part of the journey and that freed me up to shoot photos of the incredible sights unfolding around us. The views were even more spectacular than I anticipated!

Our route took us from south Seattle Washington through Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and into the Phoenix metro area of Arizona. Each day, each mile, each turn, brought constantly changing terrain into view. I was particularly struck by the wide-open spaces we traveled to in the Great Basin of northern Nevada. I was surprised to discover that some of the areas we went through were so remote that at times, more than 160 miles were between us and the next gas station.

We soaked in loads of sunshine and almost continuous dry roads for the entire trip. We experienced short-sleeve weather in some places and single-digit temperatures that had me quickly reaching for my stocking hat and gloves in others. We encountered temperatures from 4 in Twin Falls, Idaho to 66 degrees in Phoenix, AZ on our trip. Quite the range!

Driving toward Lost Wages (Las Vegas) from the north at night provided a brilliant glow of manmade lights and loads of traffic. We had driven through South Seattle, and Boise, Idaho, but Las Vegas was its own spectacle! Mile after mile of cars, lighted signs, and more cars. The lines of traffic served as a reminder that folks were visiting from around the world.

We endured some very rough roads crossing into Arizona on our final morning of the trip and did our best to dodge the multitude of holes. Winding roads quickly led us to smoother roads and increased traffic as we entered the Phoenix metro area, arriving during afternoon rush hour traffic. I am very thankful for the safe journey and the incredibly beautiful sunshine and dry weather we enjoyed throughout our journey.  I hope the photos provide a taste of what we saw.

Across each mile, I embraced the wonder and beauty God created for our enjoyment. The views were truly spectacular. The variety of landscapes was amazing. It was really a gift to be able to soak it all in. God’s handiwork is always on display, if we will just take the time to stop and look, really look at it!

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech; they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens, God has pitched a tent for the sun. Psalm 19:1-4

I know road trips are not for everyone, but I felt privileged to make this journey and delight in the spectacle of beauty unfolding around me. I hope you take some time today to look at the beauty around you!

Whether you’re in a park, driving through the countryside, or walking along the Savannah River, the Greeneway in North Augusta, or around the Augusta Canal, there are amazing things to be seen and enjoyed. God delights in providing us with the beauty of His creation as a constant reminder of his power and presence. Be sure to pause and enjoy the splendor and variety He provides for us.