The Vault of Heaven

On our way to the Grand Canyon we were struck by a few things. First, that stopping at Chloride set us up to stay in Williams instead of driving on through and deciding to skip the Grand Canyon because the timing didn't work out. We very well could have kept driving, thinking we stop somewhere neat in New Mexico. If we had driven into the storm we probably would have been stuck. It easily could have been miserable. That stop in Chloride caused us to spend the night in Williams where we got the warning to go north before it was too late.

 We talked about the signs: three butterflies on the wall at the Volvo dealership, three butterflies on a house as soon as we turned into Williams. V's everywhere we looked. It felt very much as though we were being guided on this trip and it was up to us to believe that we would encounter clear roads and safe travels.

Can you see me now? V's in the power lines.

Finally, we were awestruck by the sheer beauty of the day. The sky was a vivid blue with spots of fluffy clouds. We knew it was going to be a great day to see the Grand Canyon. And we were right.

As we approached the observation area, the only word that would come out was "breathtaking." No photograph ever fully captures the canyon. You can't appreciate just how vast it is without standing on the edge and having that first hand perception. It was amazing. It was worth every inconvenience we might experience getting home. It was incredible.

Stella doing her What about Bob impression.

From the top, the railing looks about two feet high. We all joked there is no way we're taking our kids here!

We watched this guy leap from the edge of the canyon and take flight. It was quite a sight. Having ate at the Red Raven, then seeing ravens pop everywhere (even in terms of how many miles the canyon is across: "as the raven flies..."), Stella was feeling that they were a good omen, one of God's provision for us on our journey.

"And He said to His disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!" (Luke 12:22-24 RSV)

While talking with other travelers at the canyon we learned that the day before there was snow and heavy fog and it was impossible to actually see the canyon. Had we made it there the day before we would have left disappointed, like the bus tour they told us about that had traveled from Vegas to see the canyon but instead saw only snow and fog which created a veil concealing the view. We got chills when we talked about seeing the flooding in Vegas on the news, the flooding which we had just escaped. Then we walked into the gift shop and saw a photo book titled, "Grand Canyon, Vault of Heaven." Maybe you will dismiss it as coincidence, but of all the words in the English language, vault? a V word? Then another called the canyon the Veil of the Soul. I'm not making this up. It is hard to not wax a little spiritual in a place of such overwhelming grandeur and beauty, especially when there were so many little things pointing to a larger message. 

We stayed a little longer than the Griswold's, but we knew we had to head north. We had a message from my friend Linda in Colorado that there was a chance of snow but no ice and that the weather there should be pretty clear. We decided to head toward Utah and take a scenic byway through Monument Valley and around Arches National Park toward Grand Junction. We'd try to get outside Denver then the next day head up to I80 and come home through Nebraska and Iowa. It was the route deemed most beautiful but also the most potential for bad roads. I80 across the plains is notorius for drifting and even freezing rain, and we knew there wouldn't be much to see once we got to Nebraska. At that point we didn't have many options, though, so we stole one last glimpse before venturing north.