Inspired by God's Majesty

El Capitan

Yosemite National Park

I never cease to be inspired by God's majesty.  Though I must admit, I sometimes take it for granted.  That being said, Yosemite National Park is one place that you cannot ignore or deny His majesty.  

On this particular day, a couple of weeks ago, I was teetering on burn-out.  Speaking for myself, being a domestic warrior is no easy job.  I try to live life with the heart of a soldier that I once was, an Army soldier that is.  You know the old adage "Once a soldier, always a soldier?"  I no longer serve in the U.S. Army but I do my best to rally His troops each day, now serving in God's Army. Mary is my General, guiding me to follow the orders of Christ, my Commanding Officer.  He has blessed my husband and I with a small squad of 5 soldiers to train up and know His ways...Some of my peers would agree that this is no easy task!  I admit that there are days when I'd like to run away and go AWOL (Absent without Leave).  Not forever of course, but I just have those days of stubborn resistance.  I am weak and unworthy of the task I have been called to....  

It is amidst these moments when burdens feel heavy, that God never fails to reveal His majesty.  He is here and he dwells among us.  Not that I don't already know that, but sometimes I need that swift kick to appreciate the obvious!

Well, here it was....The obvious!

What a great blessing that we live only 2 driving hours away from Yosemite National Park...It's practically in our back yard!

I was able to break away with a couple of the "troops" during our school week to appreciate God's majesty.  Oh, and study California /Native American History while we were at it!  This was just the swift kick that I needed.  

Can you see the silhouette of baby deer?

This is Sentinel Rock in the background (To the Right)

The leaves were just starting to change into their Autumn glory!

God was reminding me of His glory.

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."~Philippians 4:8~

Half Dome in the background

It was such a quiet morning, we could almost hear the rustle of angel's wings...If you have ever been to Yosemite, you can always hear this peaceful rustle if you stop and listen...Today, even Daddy Deer came out!

Princess was a little nervous about getting too close...

Then we were off to explore the Native American Village

As we walked a long, our conversation drifted to a beloved Catholic Native American Blessed, Kateri Tekakwitha.  We celebrated her feast over the summer  and remembered how brave she was to stand firm in her Christianity.   God's majesty and grace was revealed once again.  Princess was inspired, therefore I was inspired.

All Saint's Day is coming up...Guess who Princess wants to be?

Indian Grinding Rock

An authentic Native American Woman demonstrating the art of basket weaving...

Here she is again...

It was a great day and just the "time out" that we all needed.  A time to be thankful for all we have and to appreciate God's majesty all around us.  I read this hymn today that fit our sentiments:

"Christ the glory of the sky,

Christ of earth the hope secure,

Only Son of God most high,

Offspring of a maiden pure.

Purest Light, within us dwell,

Never from our soul's depart;

Come, the shades of earth dispel,

Fill and purify the heart."

Thank you, Lord, for renewing our spirits through your majestical creation and its natural peace...

"Holidays and vacations can help to balance activity with contemplation, haste with more natural rhythms, noise with the heralding silence of peace."

~Pope John Paul II~

As soldiers of Christ we will march through the hours of our day, letting His word be a lamp to our feet, so that we may always follow in His footsteps.

"From the rising of the sun to its setting, praised be the name of the Lord."

~Psalm 113:3~

At the end of the day, I am most grateful for getting beyond myself.  I love it when God does this.

"God seeks us where we are, not so that we stay there, but so that we may come to be where He is, so that we may get beyond ourselves."

~Pope Benedict XVI~

Amen.