The Truly Grand Grand Canyon

This spring has been an absolute whirlwind. Following Easter, we embarked on our first-ever trip to Iowa to visit family. Upon returning home—with our surprise gosling in tow—we hatched thirteen ducklings, lost around fifteen of our birds, and planted corn, peppers, and carrots—all within a span of two and a half weeks.

Then it was time to hit the road again

This time we were headed west to San Diego, California.

Once again, the lambs traveled to our friends’ acreage and another friend cared for our birds—but this time, thankfully, without any key mishaps.

We planned to take four days on the journey west so we could make a detour to visit the Grand Canyon.

On the first day, we put as many miles between us and home as possible, and making it all the way to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The next day we stopped at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. After stretching our legs at the visitor center, we headed out to take in the views of the Painted Desert.

As I walked toward the trail overlooking badlands and gazed across the vast desert before me, I suddenly found myself disoriented and shaky.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Here we were, planning to visit the boundless vista of the Grand Canyon the next day, and I couldn’t even look across the Painted Desert without battling intense vertigo.

Thankfully, I discovered that if I watched the ground in front of my feet while walking, then stopped before looking out across the landscape, I fared much better. Even so, after snapping a few pictures, I was done. We still had three hours of driving ahead of us to reach Tusayan, Arizona, and I couldn’t afford to risk motion sickness.

After my experience at the Painted Desert, I found myself unexpectedly nervous about seeing the Grand Canyon.

First, I wanted to actually be able to enjoy it with my family—without getting sick.

So I did what I could.

I prayed and prepared.

I asked God to allow me to enjoy His creation and to grant me wisdom managing the vertigo. I researched tips and tricks for preventing symptoms. Then, honestly, I accepted whatever the outcome might be, knowing that ultimately I had no control over it.

But there was another reason I was nervous.

What if I didn’t find the Grand Canyon all that grand?

I’d seen pictures. I’d watched videos. I’d even seen it from the window of an airplane.

Would seeing it in person be incredible?

Or…meh?

As it turns out, staying just outside Grand Canyon Village was absolutely the right call. We were able to sleep in a bit, avoid the sunrise crowds, and still arrive before the late-morning rush.

Perfect timing.

We parked at Yavapai Point and headed toward the South Rim.

I took it slow, keeping my eyes on the path in front of me and resisting the urge to look up while the rest of my family reacted to the view.

Finally, I stopped.

I looked up.

And I stared across the expanse of the Grand Canyon.

And guess what?

No vertigo.

Thank you, Jesus!

And yes—it was absolutely worth the detour.

Pictures and videos simply do not do it justice.

I tried taking photographs, but quickly abandoned the impossible task. No camera can adequately capture the depth, breadth, and sheer vastness of the truly grand Grand Canyon. It is one of those places that simply must be experienced in person.

As I stood there trying to comprehend distances so immense they seemed unreal, even while stretched out before my eyes, I was reminded of the love of God.

The Grand Canyon seems beyond understanding, and yet, for all its vastness, it can be measured.

It is 277 miles long.

Up to 18 miles wide.

More than a mile deep.

Yet God’s love is so vast, it cannot be measured at all.

And still Paul prays that believers might “be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge.” (Ephesians 3:18-19a)

In other words, that we might know the unknowable.

What a beautiful picture of His love He created when He formed the Grand Canyon with His capable hands.

The canyon stretches beyond what our minds can easily grasp, yet God’s love extends infinitely farther still.

It is too wonderful to comprehend.

And yet, I pray that you, too, may “know the love of Christ which passes knowledge.”

Stay tuned—more about our travels coming June 20.