Witnessing God’s Beauty Along the Way

Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

In the early morning, we departed the bustle of Sydney city streets and skyscrapers to journey west to the Blue Mountains National Park, sometimes called “Australia’s Grand Canyon.” Within two hours, the urban sprawl gave way to a landscape that was ancient, wild, and rich with stories. We were welcomed into eucalyptus forests that stretched in every direction and cliffs that fell away into blue-tinged valleys.

We spent the day hiking beneath towering sandstone cliffs, along narrow stone paths carved into the rock itself. The trail hugged the side of the mountain, sometimes only wide enough for one person to pass. We clung to each other as the valley opened up beside us into the deep canyon.

We reached Wentworth Falls, where water tumbles in thin white ribbons into the canyon below. Just above the main plunge, the water glides its way across stone—softly, steadily, sacredly. Our brief pause to rest and listen to the water’s steady splash was a gift of prayer.

Later, we visited Echo Point and looked out over the famous Three Sisters, sandstone pillars standing like guardians above the Jamison Valley. There’s an ancient Aboriginal origin story of love, war, and magic that defines them, but even beyond the mythology, the spires evoke awe and wonder at creation’s unique display.

As evening approached, we made our way to Lincoln’s Rock, a flat cliff-side ledge often called the “edge of the world.” There, we watched the sun set over the valley, the sky painted in gold and tangerine. Everything grew quiet. Our family huddled together in the hush.

As God’s handiwork, each different perspective of the forest, cliffs, and valleys brings an expanded attitude of awe and praise for the Creator’s brilliance and imagination. Every vantage point of this unique landscape brought us back to the signature blue mist giving the range its name. The intense color is the result of oil particles from the eucalyptus trees lifting into the air where they are met by sunlight filtering through producing the inspiring beauty.

The greatness of God is the capacity to make all things and every person a grand wonder. In our every days, we share our words, ideas, energy, and emotion, and Holy Spirit light filters through producing splendor and inspiration for others to behold. It is no work we perform. We are here, grace is ever present, the light of Christ never fades, the majesty of God is evident. As we tend to our growing in God’s revealing and transforming rays, God will produce the love, joy, and hope that will sustain the earth.

Take those moments and find inspiration in this ball of life God has made. Yet remember that you too are equally God’s miracle, a vessel through which holy light shines, evoking awe, producing bright color, and drawing others into the excitement of life!