Worship

Leaving the comfort of our room at the Inn and the warmth of El Tovar’s cozy lobby, my husband and I stepped to the rim of the Grand Canyon and sat on the stone wall, waiting for the sun to rise. It was 5:00 AM, quiet and dark and still.  Few people could be seen. None could be heard. Surrounded by an expectant silence, we waited with a few others for God’s sunlight to manifest itself. Without words, we all knew what was coming.

As the minutes unhurriedly ticked by, words were whispered, but they were reverent, more felt than heard. For those of us who came for the experience of the sunrise, we simply waited, together, expecting to be awed with the wonder of God’s creation.

But as the time for sunrise neared, another group of people raced out to the rim, noisy and loud and disruptive. With only a few minutes to spare, they clutched their phones, preoccupied with the perfect camera shot. Waiting was not an option. “Have we missed it?” they yelled to each other. “Will you bring me some coffee?” they called out.  “It’s cold, isn’t it?” they noisily agreed. Crowding the rim, they blocked the view of those who had been waiting, disturbing the respectful silence.

The gathering along the rim grew crowded and hectic and rowdy.

And when the sun rose over the cliffs, those who had rushed out at the last minute captured their shot and hurried back inside, satisfied with the picture they took that proved they had seen the sunrise at the Grand Canyon.

But they missed the stillness of the wait, the reverence of the moments, the anticipation of what was to come. They missed the experience.

For one group of people, it was a time of wonder; the other group settled for a selfie.

Lord, may I always worship You in the manner you deserve. Amen.

“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised”

(Psalm 113:3 NIV).

“The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

They have no speech, they use no words;

no sound is heard from them.

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is deprived of its warmth”

 (Psalm 19:1-6 NIV).