Twin Wonders: Grand Canyon and Truth

There is no doubt that being in the presence of something bigger than one's self is both humbling and inspiring. Speaking for myself, it puts into perspective my own challenges, yet motivates me to aspire to great and good behavior and achievement. I speak of the Grand Canyon. A few days ago, with a cousin, I hiked up and down this miracle of nature. Even now I am finding it difficult to step down off the high feelings I continue to enjoy from experiencing so much of one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Standing inside the Grand Canyon, it is impossible to look around and not see the best that beauty has to offer. Seeing the Grand Canyon should be on everyone's to-do list.

Hiking up and down it, however, is a different matter. Part of this adventure included spending the night at the Phantom Ranch, which is situated at the bottom of the Canyon. This facility was founded for workers and visitors over 70 years ago. The hike, at least for us, was difficult, challenging and absolutely awesome. Beginning at the South Rim, we hiked down the Canyon's South Kabob Trail, a path approximately seven miles in length. The next day we walked up to where we started by following the Bright Angel Trail, a near ten-mile trek. Neither paths were straight, but instead were shaped in zigs and zags to better fit the terrain of the Canyon. Going down took us four and a half hours and going up a little over six.

I note one particular rule those who oversee and monitor the Grand Canyon have for hikers and tourists: people must not leave behind any trash. Trash that people do generate must not be left behind. I like this because it helps defend the purity of the Grand Canyon and holds responsible those who may treat it with disrespect. All of us need to be similarly militant in preserving one of the wonders of our own species: honesty. Truth is probably the ultimate tie that binds all of us. As the Grand Canyon represents the best of our planet, truth represents the best of all of us as communicators. The two are twin wonders. My trip to the Grand Canyon helped reinforce that notion.