The Beauty in Spikes

When are spikes beautiful?  When seen at Bryce Canyon, Utah.  I was able to tour this area as a freshman in high school and vividly remember this unique spot.  In an area of canyons and rock formations the hike that my sisters and I took at this location made you feel like a little child near a Christmas tree.  You just had to touch these rocks and see if they were real!  At the museum in the visitor center we saw a quote by a former farmer in this area that described it as a "helluva place to loose a cow". 
More then just the unusual, this place was beautiful to me by the stunning difference in its geography.  You can almost sense this in this wonderful picture taken by my friend Ryan Bowen above.  The distinct colors of sandstone are usually exhibited in cliff formations in other parts and this particular National Park had spikes in a "ditch" instead. In the backdrop of the normal trees, sandstone, and sun this place summons a sense of wonder.
As I described in yesterday's post, spike formations can be odd and potentially harmful.  I am deliberately choosing today to see spikes from the lens that captures the creative hand of my Creator.  I continue to pray that this place in our family's journey will be a unique location and not become the overall landscape.  I am hopeful as I consider that we have visited this scary place before and now have a 2nd grader at the top of her class.  Friday may hold additional answers for us as we meet with a neurologist.  In the meantime I am going to examine the periphery of the above photo and picture myself on a hike with my sisters in the heat of July wondering why a a farmer would ever pick a spot like this to raise cattle!