Think on This

Few things help clear the mind, the heart and the spirit like spending the day at 8,000 feet. The Mount Charleston Wilderness area an hour outside of Las Vegas gave up some of its secrets today as I hiked the Cathedral Rock trail high above the valley below. Not only were there hawks floating in the wind currents around the high cliffs, but ground squirrels chattered along the trail as if to say, "It's a good day to be alive." Yes, it is a good day to be alive. A good day to appreciate the glorious heaven we have here on this earth. A good day to sit on a log and let the cool breezes brush your face. And a good day to praise God for all of His creation. Thank you, Lord, for high ground that lifts us up for your kiss of sunshine.

Many who know me know I have a deep connection with birds of prey ... a recent blessing in the desert (though on a power pole) was this female American Kestrel with her luncheon snake. I watched for 30 minutes - something I've never had the opportunity to do - as she landed with the snake, killed the snake, ate the snake, and then rested after dining. As I watched and photographed (wishing I had the 400mm lens out), I couldn't help but lift up praise for God's glorious creation (in all forms) and give thanks for being able to sit still (a recurring theme these days) long enough to observe the world around me. As many times as I've seen hawks, falcons or eagles, I've never once been able to watch one eat in the wild. The strength in talons and hooked beak were humbling, the fastidiousness in finishing every morsel so as not to waste, and then the time taken just to perch following eating ... these were all lessons I took to heart. Let me be strong in my choices of what I take in, let me not waste what is given to me, and then let me always take time to appreciate that which I choose to embrace - food, word, thought, music, friendship, love, wonder, vision ... everything.