Ode to the American Southwest

I got the opportunity to spend my Fall break in Arizona and Nevada, hiking around the mountains and canyons in the region. Most of my life, I have not been particularly struck by the supposed beauty of nature. I admired the marshes and swamps on our southern border for their comforting atmosphere and gentle, easy ways. But when visiting beaches and other mountains, the majesty of it all has been lost on me. But standing in the desert a couple of weeks ago, I understood what it meant to see God in nature.