My Trip To The Grand Canyon

​At 2:30 a.m. my alarm went off. After only 3 hours of sleep, it was a struggle to open my eyes and roll out of bed, but I kept telling myself, “It will all be worth it at the end of the day.”
 
My friend and I had been planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, and a 6 a.m. direct flight meant we would have the whole day to explore the area. We would just need lots of caffeine to help us stay awake.
 
Even though it was a 4 hour flight, because of the change in time zones, we landed in Phoenix at 7:05 a.m. With Starbucks in hand, we picked out a rental car and began the 4-hour drive to the Grand Canyon. 

​We planned to stop in Sedona for lunch, but we both agreed that if we saw something interesting along the way we would stop and explore. For once, we weren’t confined to a set schedule, and that felt so freeing.
 
At the first rest area, we pulled over and commented about the amazing view. As we continued to drive, we stopped at several spots. Each view seemed to get more spectacular, and we weren’t even at the Grand Canyon yet. If we didn’t take the time to stop, we would’ve missed out on seeing incredible sights like this: 

It made me wonder: Instead of being so focused on what’s ahead, what if we took more time to stop and notice our current surroundings? What if each day we looked for something beautiful? What if we took time to truly appreciate the people and opportunities around us? 
 
These random stops reminded me about the importance of slowing down and looking around. My friend and I eventually made it to Sedona for lunch. We ate on the patio of a local restaurant and had a beautiful view in the background.
 
A few hours later, we finally made it to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. From the first step onto the trail, I was in awe of the vastness and beauty of the Grand Canyon. What we saw was just a glimpse, as the Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and has a depth of over a mile. Pictures don’t do it justice. 

​I marveled at God’s creativity and how so many people of different ethnicities and backgrounds were gathered in one location. We spoke different languages, but we all understood that we were surrounded by something beautiful.
 
My day began before sunrise, but it was worth it because I got to see the sunset over the Grand Canyon. Looking back at my pictures. I was amazed to see that in this one, the sun beams look like a cross. 

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God often reveals Himself to me through nature, and this time He gave me another visible reminder of His presence. After being awake for nearly 24 hours, it was the perfect way to end the day.