Nature’s Monuments

An unexpected stop on our cross-country journey was to the amazing Colorado National Monument Park just outside Grand Junction, CO. The road to get there is not an easy one, but equally impressive as it winds through mesa like mountains with its hair pin turns and drop offs that would punish the simplest of driving errors with an undeniable downward plunge hundreds of feet to the valley floor to a most certain death. Perhaps one of our nation’s best kept treasures, these towering monoliths rise from the valley floor having stood the test of time. Each monument unique in their own rite, has been carved by several hundred million years of harsh weather conditions molded by water, sun, and wind to become the vast incredible structures they are today. They rise from the earth in many shapes, sizes, and assorted colors while all who behold them are reminded of their sheer beauty, strength, and power for all that they’ve endured. In many ways I see these abundant natural rock structures as pillars of power, resilience, and splendor much like the people of our great nation. “One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.” Golda Meir. Our 244 years of independence as a nation has taught us many lessons on how to govern ourselves, while not all good, each of which we must learn from in order to better ourselves for the future. During a time where man-made national monuments are being defaced or destroyed for what they are believed to represent from the past we need only look to nature for reassurance, or comfort in our own humanity. Like the monoliths forged from adversity since the beginning of time, we too can stand the tests of time and endure the current political climate as well as social injustices we are facing today. We can and must unite as a people, stand together, and continue to be the greatest nation on Earth, but we will only succeed through more love, compassion, and understanding for one another. Yesterday was history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is the present, so take this generous gift (of life) and make the most of it for the days ahead.