Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is home of the United State's largest natural bridge. It is large enough to convince you that you are on solid ground, but a peak from one of the viewpoints or a hike down below prove you wrong. My mom and I first ventured into the park on a whim one day when we were out hiking around Payson, Arizona. I was showing her several areas where I had rode horses while doing Mustangs on a Mission. We saw the sign and said why not.
We both were mind blown and fascinated with the glory and majesty of God displayed in the beautiful natural landscape. I truly believe no human could dream up something half so glorious. I knew right away that I wanted to bring my cousins there to see it, just a week later when they came to visit from Illinois. Little did I know, God would use the second trip to teach me a big lesson...
These feet, this body, sometimes I have no choice but to say no to stuff like climbing down a cliff. On my second trip to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, I had to choose to let the younger ones have at the tougher hiking (even though I’m not THAT much older). Once we got down under the bridge into the cavern, I sat on a cliff while my cousins hiked down. See top right corner for a peak at them. I had a long weekend and I was worried I wouldn’t make it back out. My body was shaky and weak from an autoimmune flare up. I plopped down on my butt and took a look around the amazing cavern at Tonto Natural Bridge and worried at first that I should have pushed myself harder. I always worry that I use my autoimmune as an excuse.. But I took a breath, pushed that thought out and embraced my view from above and a some what quiet moment with God. I praised Him that I made it that far and then I turned to talk to the park ranger whom I had tons of questions for.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31 ESV
I asked the park ranger about his job, what it was like, some of the coolest things he’d seen out there, how he ended up there and a few other things. We didn’t talk long, but when I went to leave he said thank you for the conversation and he appreciated it. That kind of made me pause.. what!? I was asking questions because I love nature and was passing time waiting on my cousins. But that conversation was a light in both our days. I needed to be there acknowledging him and his job and all he did to keep everyone safe down there and he needed to say I was appreciated for knowing my limits and not pushing myself too hard. Do you ever stop to think about where God needs you most? Do you actually listen when you’re feeling like you need to stay somewhere longer or say hi to a stranger? My cousins kept hiking, being braver than I and far more eager to get to the water down below. When they came back up the cliff, their first eyes were gleaming with excitement, and mine were too!
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39 ESV
I encourage you to pray for a moment this week where you can feel God’s nudging to say hi or ask a stranger a question, tell them you like their shirt, or ask someone about a job you are interested in. You never know when someone is longing to be seen and heard.
xo,
Sara
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