Winter Summit. Somewhere up there, grace. Scout’s Lookout on the trail to Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park, Utah.

Grace in a Winter Sky. Approaching Zion National Park from Kanab, Utah.

“Your daily life is your temple and your religion. When you enter into it take with you your all.”  - Khalil Gibran

Winter sky over Kolob Canyon in Zion National Park, Utah.

There is a sacredness of light and feeling in moments and places that transcend what the mind struggles to comprehend and control. Sometimes the full extent of the meaning of these experiences aren’t fully appreciated until days, months or even years afterwards, but the heart never lets go of the purity of beauty. In those moments are distant glimpses and echoes of where we come from and where we will eventually return. The struggles of today are suddenly meaningless. All else eventually falls to the wayside. What remains is eternal. The heart opened is the heart that connects with something wonderful beyond ourselves.

Crashing Through A Thousand Fears

Suddenly a single flame reignites from beneath the layers of ashen, wrecked remnants of so many signal fires.

To come to life again when all was nearly lost, hope arrives in the newfound strength coaxed forward by the promise of the eternal.

“Try again, try again. Rise.”

Where so many have long receded in the dust of earthly ages, prone and broken in their dispirited mourning of lost youth and passion. But here - here on this mountain and here upon the drowning waves of the dark sea - the whisper of a single heart, aged and damaged, responds. “I still believe and what can be.”

When the heart wants to run, let it race. When it wants to fly, let it soar.

To crash through decades of a thousand fears. Icarus with new wings and now wisdom gracefully follows the lead of a tracking sun, this time going above and beyond all those previous flights that were aimed at the fire center. 

The canyon walls bellow are lined with a million ghosts of failed attempts. Echoes from the shadows call from behind, “no, no … you will fall too.” 

But fins become wings. Feet break clay. Lift is gained on the rising breath that is the promise of dawn. A forgotten dance is once again performed amongst the clouds of the midday sun. And then the drifting waltz on the edges of golden light retreating below the horizon.

Stars, a million or more lead the way now. The arms of Orion bid Aquila to follow as he leads the way along a Milky Way path of shimmering dust. 

“Keep flying. Keep flying. No fear. No fear.” 

Soon all the wrecked remnants below are lost to shadow. The calls of warning fall to silence. Now nothing but a single voice from above, and from within.

In quiet and stillness, grace of forgiveness. Fears become distant memories. And on the wings of renewed courage peace arrives.

“I am home.”

Begin again in thankfulness. Texture and form in Zion National Park, Utah.

“Your soul knows the geography of your destiny. Your soul alone has the map of your future, therefore you can trust this indirect, oblique side of yourself. If you do, it will take you where you need to go, but more important it will teach you a kindness of rhythm in your journey.”        - John O’Donohue, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

Journey in the glow of the canyon @ Zion National Park, Utah

Frozen Light. Ice details in black and white. Zion National Park, Utah.

“Go now and seek to be God’s breath and face and hands to a world in need of grace, knowing that when you lose yourself in the Spirit, you will find yourself indeed.” by Estelene Boratenski

January 2010 at Zion National Park, Utah. Sunset at The Watchman. #landscapephotography #utah