Weeping Rock

As a side-trip of our trip to Las Vegas, my husband and I drove the two and one-half hours to Zion National Park outside of St. George, Utah. Like the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon, Zion lies on the edge of the Great Colorado Plateau. Unlike the Grand Canyon, visitors to Zion visit the park from the bottom of the canyon instead of looking down from the top. As I had only experienced the Grand Canyon from the top, Zion gave me a whole new perspective of a deep canyon . . .sheer rock cliffs rising straight into the air, plants and greenery growing right out of the rock walls, a beautiful river running between the two sheer cliffs of the canyon and the incredible beauty to be seen in every direction.

We found many beautiful and sacred spots, but my favorite was Weeping Rock. About a half mile, rather steep hike from the canyon floor took us from the middle of the desert up to a shower of water droplets coming right out of the rock wall. The hiking path took us through the water droplets to the other side where we could stand in an indention in the rock wall. From here, we could look out at the majestic view of the canyon walls and the desert blue sky through the water droplets. Because of the extra moisture in this area of the canyon, instead of desert plants, the greenery around Weeping Rock was lush with plants such as Oregon Grape and ferns. All of these factors added together created for me an amazing experience.

There is a scientific explanation for this unusual phenomenon. It is something about . . . the rain that falls at Zion is able to soak its way down through the layers of sandstone that make up the upper part of the canyon walls. However, the water is not able to make its way through the more dense rock under the sandstone. Therefore, the water runs horizontally until it finally escapes out of the rock in this dazzling display of sparkling clean water droplets. The science made sense to my mind, but to my heart this place was much more than that . . . it was a place full of hope and encouragement.

To me, the Source of All That Is has a very masculine aspect that is penetrating and powerful like the sun and there is a very feminine aspect that is nurturing and receptive like the moon. Gazing out at the hot desert sun and sheer rock cliffs through this refreshing, sparkling water droplets at Weeping Rock seemed to take me straight to the heart of the Divine Feminine. Life is tough. Problems in the world, our country and even right in our own homes can make us feel like we are trying to find a way to thrive and grow in a deep desert canyon with sheer rock walls on both sides. Yet, Weeping Rock reminds us that there is a Mother God who wants nothing more than to be invited to come alongside us on our journey, nurture us, refresh us, and encourage us to grow. . . like water droplets coming out of the rocks to nurture and refresh a lacy fern in the desert.

The Shack

Last week, while in Las Vegas for my husband to attend a medical conference, I read the book The Shack by Wm. Paul Young. Even though the book is a work of fiction, I got the feeling that I was reading the heart of one man's journey from deep personal pain and anger at God toward wholeness and peace.

The protagonist is a middle-aged father of five named Mack who has worked hard to be a good, loving father in spite of many unresolved father issues of his own. Traditional religion is difficult for him but he is fairly happy and fulfilled until the unthinkable happens. His youngest daughter is abducted and apparently murdered in an old shack deep in the wilderness of Oregon. For four years, Mack is totally engulfed in "The Great Sadness". His guilt over not having been able to keep his precious child safe creates anger and rage not only toward himself but toward God. Suddenly a note appears in his mailbox inviting him to return to the old shack for a weekend. The note is evidently from God. The weekend that follows transforms his life.

Any time that you make the statement, "God is . . .", it matters not what word follows that statement - that word will limit who God is. So, in a way, Mr. Young's personification of three aspects of who God is, his descriptions of how God moves through the story and the protagonist's conversations with God, are all greatly limiting to who God is. On the other hand, if you can accept that this book is not attempting to teach doctrine but is sharing one' man's heart on how to reconcile that God is a loving God even when there is great suffering on this planet - the book is greatly touching.

I found that the protagonist's struggles with God brought to the surface some of my own unresolved pain and anger. Do we not all have father issues? Do we not all struggle to understand how God can be a loving God when we experience pain and suffering in our own lives? If read with an open heart, I believe that this book can be a catalyst for healing some of our own unresolved wounds and resentments.

I invite you to read The Shack. I invite you to allow your own unresolved pain and anger to emerge as Mack's emerges. I invite you to listen to your own soul speak to you as Mack converses with God. I invite you to struggle with God as Mack struggles. It just might bring healing and transformation to your life as well as to Mack's.

What a great book!