Monday, August 22, 2011

Majesty

It's August... and that means it's time for another post in the ChristianWriters.com blog chain.

Our theme is August.

From Dictionary.com:

au·gust  [aw-guhst]

–adjective
1. inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic: an august performance of a religious drama.
I must admit this theme was a little harder than ones in past months to wrap my mind around.

For me, August has always been a month, and I rarely think of using the other meaning in a sentence.

But, as I've thought about the alternative definition--majesty--I think of my visits to the Rocky Mountains. How august are they, when you're driving across the plains of eastern Colorado, and they finally come into view as you're traveling across I-70, coming into Denver? I have yet to be more taken with a sight, although the Flint Hills of Kansas around sunrise or sunset in fall or mid-spring can take my breath away as well.

The first time I saw the Rockies, I was 20, traveling to Wyoming from Wichita with my new-fiancé who would eventually become TMOTH a few months later. I was awestruck. Especially when days later, we returned to visit first Rocky Mountain National Park, then Colorado Springs' Pike's Peak.

Ever since then, I've been smitten with the Rockies in general, and Colorado in particular. In the next few weeks, we'll travel there for the first time since having children. I can't wait.

When I'm in the Rockies especially, I experience a relaxation I don't get anywhere else--even when on a vacation elsewhere. Perhaps it's the higher altitudes and less oxygen. But, I honestly think it's the august beauty of the countryside.

While there, I get more reflective. Gazing at the beauty, you can't but help but marvel and acknowledge the wonderful craftsmanship of our Creator. Sure, some people subscribe to the notion our world was formed over millions of years.

I usually have a big eye-roll for that one.

You can't look at Creation if you've got any sense in your brain and not see how things had to be formed by a loving and masterful Creator. Sure, changes to occur. But, He was the one who formed the rivers, chose their paths, and made them for us to drink from and enjoy. He's the one who shoved the rock out of the ground to form majestic mountains, covered in aspens, pines, snow, and curious creatures.

His whole Creation is truly august, and worthy of our awe, from the far, far deserts that stretch thousands of square miles, to the tiny forget-me-not you find on a mountainous hike.

Take a minute to look around with wonder next time you're enjoying nature and think of how awesome it is--and how truly awe-inspiring the Master of the Universe is for taking the time to create our world, right down to the ants crawling around in the blades of grass between our toes.

All of today's photo's were taken by either myself or TMOTH during a vacation to Colorado in July 2007, which was the last time we were in my (current) favorite state. Given a detailed map, I can approximate all three locations, and the one with the river I know for a fact was near 11 Mile Reservoir along the S. Platte River. TMOTH is pictured in this WAY down the river if you've got a big enough copy to spot him. :)

Until next time,


P.S. Tomorrow is my wedding anniversary with TMOTH! 9 years together... and we haven't killed each other yet. ;) Seriously, love this guy more each year, and excited to have at least another 59 with him, Lord willing. -- L.S.

15 comments:

Giles Hash said...

There's an old saying, "If God doesn't live in Colorado, I'll bet he spends most of his time there." That's probably why you feel that this wonderful state is so august :)

I love it here. The only other places I could think of where I might like to live are other countries, and even then, I would have to return home after a few years.

Linda Yezak said...

Beautiful, Liberty. All of God's creation is august!

Unknown said...

@Giles, I used to feel that way about Kansas... I've since revised that! And, I'm with you. I'd love to live in a few foreign countries (Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) but I'd have to come home after a few years.

@Linda, thanks! And, you're right. :)

Tracy Krauss said...

It always surprises me when thinking, logical, other wise sensible people buy into the evolution myth so readily. I had to smirk just the other day when I heard a scientist on the radio talking about how we know that snowflakes are never the same. his reasoning was that, from the evidence, the probabilities are just too small. Yet ... that same scientist would probably buy into evolution, where the probabilities are even smaller!
Great post and nice pix.

MGalloway said...

Good post and nice photos! I find it interesting that when you drive by certain large mountains on the interstate (especially ones over 10,000 feet), you can see them for a very long time in the distance...long before and after you pass them.

Victor Travison said...

I thought the one picture might be the South Platte. I love how, when you enter the Rockies from Denver, you can see the Platte running alongside I-70 for quite a ways.

I've been in the mountains about a dozen times, most of them briefly, in the nearly 16 years I've lived here. And I've loved every one of them. The majesty from the top of Pike's Peak is fully unmatched in anything man has invented. Just goes to show you: there's no way all this could come about by accident. There had to be a Master Designer behind it all.

~ VT

Traci B said...

I'd like to visit the Rockies some day. There's just something about mountains I love...

Wonderful post and photos, Liberty. Thanks for sharing them. :)

From Carols Quill said...

Awe, yes, the Rockies are august! Thanks for taking us there with you. And happy anniversary!

chris vonada said...

The Rockies are a very majestic site approaching from I-70... they keep growing and appear to touch the sky! Enjoyed reading this post. We do owe it all to Him and I'm very thankful he made such a majestic place for us to enjoy!

Cindee Snider Re said...

Happy Anniversary, Liberty! Enjoy your vacation in the beautiful, majestic Rocky Mountains! I'll be hiking those same mountains on the Canadian side in late September in celebration of my 20th anniversary. Couldn't imagine a more august way to celebrate such a beautiful gift from God.

Dave Pardoe said...

Nice photos Liberty and Happy Anniversary. Kind of hard to think of ants as majestic when they are crawling between my toes as I am sitting watching TV on the couch though. :-) But very good blog post.

Unknown said...

Thank you, everyone! :)

@Cindee, I'm jealous... I've yet to visit the Rockies anywhere else but Colorado, and have heard the Canadian Rockies are wonderful!

Christine L.Henderson said...

Yes, how can you look at the beauty and grandeur of the mountains and not believe in a Divine Designer!

Congrats on the anniversary! But I'm curious. What is the significance of wanting 59 more years to bring it up to a total of 68?

Unknown said...

Ha! I wondered when someone would ask that. :)

Actually, there's no significance whatsoever. I was just using the 9 to keep a theme. :) Next year, it'll probably either jump to 60 or drop to 50....

My grandparents, though, have been married for 66 years. 68 (right now!) would surpass them. Though, I think they may hit 70 years, as long as my grandpa's health holds out. 3 1/2 more years to go for them.

lynnmosher said...

Amen and amen! Creation is so awesome that it is hard to understand why others cannot see it as God's handiwork. Great post, Liberty!

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