How often am I going to get to liveblog from the edge of the grand canyon? 

There were many parts of this journey I sacrificed for the sake of time, practicality, distance.  I didn’t see the twin spires, I didn’t stay for hunter under saddle. I didn’t go to any of the Civil War Sites that I said I would.  But by golly, it didn’t matter if it was 10 or 100 miles out of the way, this morning, I decided no matter what, I was coming to the Grand Canyon.  Not only is it the end of a long journey, it is the period at  the end of a long chapter in my life.  It’s a time when certain independences that I’ve taken for granted will have  to be sacrificed for a time.  It’s the beginning of the unknown course I will have to travel to get to the meat of my matter.

The sun casts long shadows down the canyon from its early eastern seat.  There are caverns miles deep where the sun has not yet agreed to show its face, leaving the walls cold and wanting, while the rest of the canyon soaks in all its glory. 

At first I thought that I would be annoyed to share my canyon rim with all the other tourists, but I was blessed to share my first canyon rim with a Buddhist monk and his family.  The spirit and peace it invoked led me away from my isolation and reclusion to camaraderie and shared astonishment and glee.  We all agreed, it was so much deeper, so much broader, so much more incredible than any of us ever thought that it was.  You were relieved to know you weren’t the only one who had taken this natural western wonder for granted. 

This country is so much better than any of us give it credit for.  We call it southern hospitality, wild west charm, beach bum laid back friendliness, but really, humans are what we after hundreds of years refuse to give ourselves credit for. We really are good people.  We’ve manufactured these tall tales of original sin and inherent evil, separating ourselves from the divine goodness, the peaceful natural world, the cosmic order.  9 out of 10 people believe humans will never stop waging war on each other, because it’s in our nature. It’s all false.  People in every town, every big city, every circumstance, have been friendly, kind, and willing. I have seen people literally all across the country stop and do little things for each other, chat with a stranger, extend prayers and blessings to lonely travelers. I have worked in the halls of congress, served in student government, competed at top levels and worked for powerful men. And I can tell you that to find the best America has to offer, you don’t have to go more than 10 miles off the 40 in any given state.  Stop trying to talk yourself into a den of evil- we are in fact deeper, broader, so much more incredible than any of us ever thought we were.  And I have faith that someday, I will be capable of giving myself the same credit. 

Quote of the Day:

“does this canyon make me look fat?”