Why did I wait so long to visit the Grand Canyon? I finally went last month and took the pictures on a hike down from the south rim. I took lots of pictures, but as cliche as it sounds, it's true, "pictures don't do it justice." But they are all I have for illustration, so it will have to do.

I get reflective when I'm surrounded by the awesomeness of nature. I think we all are wired this way to a degree. We see something incredible, and it speaks of the greatness of the creator.

I've been thinking about what John Piper said about visiting the Grand Canyon and self esteem (something man seems to value, but I'm not sure is so important). I'm going to let John's words finish this out because he says it so well.

“This is shocking. The love of God is not God's making much of us, but God's saving us from self-centeredness so that we can enjoy making much of him forever. And our love to others is not our making much of them, but helping them to find satisfaction in making much of God. True love aims at satisfying people in the glory of God. Any love that terminates on man is eventually destructive.”1

Later, he summed it up: “Nobody in this room would go to the Grand Canyon to increase your sense of self-esteem. Nobody stands on the edge of the Alps or the Rockies or the Grand Canyon in order to go there to feel better about ourselves. Do you know why you go there? Because you were written to be satisfied with splendor, not self. You were created and a law written on your heart to be infinitely, eternally, fully, joyfully satisfied in a grand splendor not a great self. I plead with you lay it down. Lay down your quest for the applause of men, the approval of men, and begin to get on a quest for the one thing that will satisfy your soul -- the splendor of Jesus Christ and all that God is for you in him. I just plead with you for your own soul's infinite happiness that you will stop pursuing it in the wrong place … We have an invincibly triumphant savior - Jesus Christ. Don't turn away from him to yourself. Don't want praise for you; give praise to him. Know him; he'll satisfy you.”2