The Grand Canyon

Red rocks ringed

with ridges

of white

bright spots

in the dull grey of desert

layers

levels

long for the horizon

reaching for that

last lost expanse

of uninterrupted

sky.

See the colorado bend

twist and turn

as it yearns for

its everlasting home

in the gulf

the canyon it has created

like a symphony

individual notes together

a melody

the years of effort

of a small river

to create something

ineffable.

They told me once

as they were remodeling the church sanctuary

that places of worship

contained vertical lines and patterns

arrows pointing to God

yet as I look out on the

Grand Canyon

with its strata and layers

as horizontal as can be

I feel more grounded

and connected to the earth itself

Like God sent me a message to

be still

here

And I hear Rumi in my head

almost mocking me

“Lo, I am with you always

means when you look for God,

God is in the look of your eyes

in the thought of looking

nearer to you than your self

or things that have happened to you.

There's no need to go outside.”