The “Canyon”
Posted on July 2, 2008
Filed Under Personal, Science |
It wasn’t easy this morning…putting on shoes and slacks. I hesitated before fastening the top button of my shirt and then again before lashing the tie around my neck.
Can eight remote days in the Grand Canyon really do this to you?
Tom had warned us that our transition back to the civilized world might be a struggle. I admit that my bed did feel good last night, but I also felt a little claustrophobic looking up at the ceiling and sensed an emptiness and a hunger for the vastness of a star-filled sky that had been the canopy above my bedroll over the previous week.
I returned late last night from one of the most amazing adventures of my life—an 8-day archeological and geological rafting trip down the Grand Canyon. Led by Tom Vail who heads up Canyon Ministries, we launched two baby-blue, WWII vintage rubber rafts into the Colorado River at Lee’s Ferry and began our 187-mile adventure, camping on sand dunes each night along the way.
The magnificence of the river was sufficient in itself to make this trip a lifetime memory. It was at times overwhelmingly powerful, with white water rapids that bucked you like a bronco and at other times, it seemed almost asleep. It snaked like a huge python, sometimes south, sometimes north or west, but hardly ever in a straight line. There were times when it slowed to a crawl, deepened in color, and you sensed that it was simply hiding its fury in the enormous depths of a narrow passage, and times when the surface boiled with up-currents and whirlpools and eddies that would silently reach up and twist and yank at the boat. But any silence soon gave way to a deep-throated rumble that warned of another drop ahead and the approach of “white water”—sometimes with a whole lot of “white”. 
The larger rapids contained deep holes and hungry valleys that seemed eager to swallow the entire boat and yet, failing that, would attempt at least to sweep everything away with the drenching weight of its chest-pounding waves.
It is simply awesome.
But to a great extent, the river was just the magic carpet that carried us to and through a phenomenal wonderland: canyon walls of head-shaking beauty—each bend in the river bringing a new, more breath-taking view; 
emerald-green water surrounding enclaves of white sand; blue herons standing like statues on the shore; 
deer and big-horn sheep gazing at us as if we were the spectacle, not them; hikes up side-canyons that led to turquoise streams, waterfalls, bubbling pools and a myriad of awesome beauty; fascinating geological and archeological features—sedimentary
layers and fossilized remains that I and 22 “scholars” had come to study–features that held the secrets of their origin; and…well, so much more.
I would like to chronicle some of this with you, and the evidence I saw, knowing that my words and pictures will fall woefully short in any attempt to convey the beauty and impact this trip has had upon me.
Tom was right when he declared we would never be the same. He was also right in saying that coming back to the “rim world” would be difficult. As I looked in the mirror this morning, with my feet crammed into dress shoes and a tie that was nearly choking me, I decided to brave the ridicule and leave the eight-day growth on my face—it was my way of keeping some of the experience alive. I have never, in my entire life, gone to work unshaven.
I did today.
Yep…something happened to me in the Canyon.
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37 Responses to “The “Canyon””
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Dr. Del Tackett is president of the Focus on the Family Institute and Senior Vice President to Focus on the Family. He is also the architect and chief spokesperson for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project--a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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Del,
I know I’m not supposed to covet but I wish I could have been there. The canyon has always been one of the places on my bucket list. The beauty God has made us stewards of, is overwhelming.
I’m jealous. But my feelings will soon be assuaged as my wife, children and I participate on a mission trip near Canyon de Chelly in north eastern AZ. I’ve heard how magnificent (though much smaller than the Grand Canyon) the area is; how the reality of the ancient world, God’s creation, and our own hectic lives paradoxically intersect into (hopefully) a lucid encounter with the reality and awesomeness of God Himself as we serve His Kingdom amongst the Navajo.
I can’t wait to see the starry universe through the clear lens of the high desert firmament instead of the humid, halogen blurred atmosphere I’m used to here in VA.
In Christ,
Al
Dr. Tackett,
I would love to hear what you learned from this adventure with respect to biblical truths.
Coming from a traditional education that claims that the river carved the canyon over millions and millions of years, how does that conform to our biblical worldview?
What evidence did you see that shows the Creator’s hand in the majesty of that place?
Thank you for your blog, I look forward to reading it.
M. Rayle
Del, great pics and great times in the canyon with you, man. For a guy who looks like Indiana Jones, you write with eloquence, subtlety and depth. Thanks for the wisdom and the life-lessons conveyed. Looking forward to reading more on your blog.
Blessings!
Hi Del, your pictures are outstanding and your commentary is somewhat lyrical. Based on these pictures, it looks like your Nikon Camera is worth the money. It was great to get to know you on the trip. I hope you do more on your blog about the trip. I would look forward to reading it. Shalom
Welcome to the Brotherhood of the Beard!! One morning, I just decided not to shave….haven’t since….that was May 14, 1976! Perhaps one day.
My wife Donna and I were in the group at church that did the Truth Project. She now has a company called Soli Deo Gloria!
Keep up the good Works.
Del,
Thank you for sharing your experience in the grand canyon.
This blog on the canyon reminded me of a seminar I attended some years ago. The evangelist described the nature of God as reflected in His creation. Everytime I see a sunset, a colorful bird, deer running free in the wilderness, or go through a flower garden, I am reminded of the majesty of our Creator. He gave the birds their song. He gave the flowers their fragrence. He gave the wild berries their flavor. In the fall, trees have their final glory for the season when their leaves turn into brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow before the winter season arrives. He also gave us the ability to enjoy all of what is around us.
Even though I did not have the opportunity to visit the grand canyon, there is so much around me that clearly displays God’s glory and majesty.
Oh, Del, I too am so envious of your experience in that awesome creation. Can’t wait to hear more of your insights….. How great is our God!
Varyn Gross
Del, thanks for your blog on the Canyon. You described it eloquently and depicted it with tremendous photos. It was a great pleasure and privilege to be a fellow pilgrim in the Canyon. My wife and I are praying for your ministries and family. Bill
Dr. Tackett,
You have quite the eye for capturing the beauty of the vast Canyon!! Captivatingly awe-some!!
Dr. Tackett, My wife and I have been (in our younger days) to the Grand Canyon, Bishop Pass and Mammoth Crest, Half Dome, Clouds Rest, and many other places of lesser renown but places of no less “head-shaking beauty”, as you appropriately put it. Growing up believing in evolution until the age of 24; finally (following 6 years of searching) giving my life to the Lord after days of reading psalms while flying with the doors open in a UH1 500ft off the deck of the desert in northwestern Nevada (God’s creation testifying) while in the Navy; and going on to teach high school science (as a Christian) for 10 years I am ever amazed at the beauty God wrought when making this now-dying world; beauty evident still. In Romans 1:20 (we are reminded of that fact which leaves us without excuse in rejecting His existence), “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.(NIV)” This you also point out through the Truth Project. Traveling to Nigeria in 1997 (medical-missionary trip) was another life-changing experience on one end of another spectrum in this world. Would that we could all experience such life-changing events. Thank you for the reminder in sharing your Canyon experience. You have a gift in expressing yourself through words. I know this may be longer than you are able to post but I wanted to share what your blog reminded me of. Sincerely, Jonathan Storlie
Dr. Tackett,
I can identify with your feelings of a live changing experience, I feel that way about my trip to Israel, I am not the same after visting Jesus homeland. Thank you for this blog and I look forward to visiting it. As for the canyon and our creator what did you learn from this that
confirms his word for us and the grandeur of this creation?
Bless you my friend
Kathy
Having grown up in Arizona, my parents would hike in and out of the Grand Canyon several times a year. My dad loved to talk to all the foreigners as we hiked down and I enjoyed him talking even more on the trek out so I could rest more frequently. My dad would share with people the stories of the layers of the canyon and use it to share his faith in our creator, for how else could something so majestic come about? I must have caught on as in my freshman year in college, I took 4 trips down the canyon with varying groups of friends, sharing all my dad’s stories with them as we went. One day I too hope to ride the river as my parents did in their early days of marriage and again at age 74 before my dad’s death. It was great to see your pictures, Del!
Del,
Having returned to North Carolina from eight days in Alaska, I related to your sense of displacement. The absolute grandeur of snow-capped peaks of the Alaska Range, including clouds lifting off the crest of Mt. McKinley at 20,320 feet, affected me deeply in a spiritual way I had not expected. The vastness of the beauty, wild and rugged, left me breathless in awe of Creator God. Bald eagles soaring above Resurrection Bay,salmon stacked in the Russian River,Dall sheep high up on the steeps,I fell in love with the land, the air, the water. No wonder people are tempted to worship the creation instead of the Creator. And no wonder, when I sit at a stoplight, my mind returns to Seward where golden eagles skim the water in twilight.
It is truely inspiring to see the beauty and power of God’s creation. What a blessing to you to be able to view it and what blessings you give to share it. The reality is coming back from a glorious surrounding of God to spiritual warfare. The glory of God’s creation is all around us just not in such magnatude.
In Christ Kitty
Praise The Lord; Truly an inspirational over view of your trip and the sense of the enormity I got just looking and reading the clip.thank you for the reality of the events we have the ability to experience. I hope I get the chance to go myself someday soon.
Keith Maki
Not jealous! “Envious”!!! (<; The crowded freeways of Los Angeles County make my mind scream with envy when I see your beautiful pictures.
Dr. Daniel C. Elliott
Del,
As a fellow Truth Project facilitator and recent GC River Rat (May 28 - June 1) I identify with every inexpressable word and took many of the same pics that really do fall short of the real Glory that they represent. I look forward to hearing your commentary about the Canyon. We had great guides but everything was “old earth” explanations (except for the “great unconformity”). It really is a Grand experience!
I pray that you never forget those moments so near to the Lord that you could feel His very breath in everything around you. Thank-you for drawing us into your experience with such wonderful writing. I cant wait to read more-
Del,
Post a picture with your beard!
Your taking the time to stop and reflect on the mightiness of your experience, though you felt your words inadequate, inspire me. Thank you for creating!
Laura
Del
I appreciate sharing your inspiration from your canyon experience- God touches our hearts in different ways but there’s something about His creation and it’s magnificence that speaks to us in a special way. It may be groaning but it’s still awesome !!! My two remaining brothers and I are planning a trip to the canyon next year- I already have the beard- but that’s a whole other ” God story “…
Del, Been there, done that, it was great!!
Going through the canyon, one thing becomes obvious: the tremendous amount of geological trauma that the earth suffered as the result of the flood, not to mention all those who were not in the ark. Man has not learned his lesson. There is still worse to come for those who do not heed the warning and turn to the Creator and His way of salvation.
I hope you had a chance to take at least one “cool refreshing” dip in the river. Ken
The GC does indeed change you. It was the beginning of my realization that the secular story of creation/evolution/billions-of-years is just wrong. Just before we went on a hiking trip down the North Rim, we had seen a K. Hovind DVD in our small group that talked about it. Dr. Hovind pointed out that the GC cuts through a North-South ridge line that, at its highest, rises almost 4,000 feet above the elevation of the Colorado River at the mouth of the canyon and ridge line. (You can see this on Google Earth.)The comment that stuck with me; “I don’t know about rivers in your area, but in mine they always flow downhill.” This, of course, was making fun of the idea that the river somehow flowed up and over the ridge line to cut the canyon over millions of years. Then he talked about how the canyon much more closely appears to be a dam break (the ridge line being the dam) of a huge body of water backed up East and North of the GC area.
On Google Earth, you can even make out what could have been the shore line! Such a burst would have carved the canyon in a very short period of time, likely a few weeks or months, especially if the sediments were still soft from the Great Flood.
Okay, so the wife and I decided to go see for ourselves, first-hand. Standing on the North Rim does bring on a sense of awe. You can make out the South Rim hotels 1 mile across the canyon, and the river on the canyon floor 1 mile down. The first thing that struck me is that the river looked so puny down there. How could THAT have carved something so huge? Then there are the flat, pancake-like bands of colors on the canyon walls; deep maroon, pale green, pale orange, chalk white, and black bands stretching as far as you can see. Beautiful.
In the secular view, we are to believe that the deepest layers were deposited all the way back in the Cambrian age some 500 million years ago. The whole area has “apparently” risen above and fallen below sea-level many times (exactly how many is still debated, and the source of power to do this is unknown), since both land and marine fossils are found in the layers. The pancake-like layers were slowly accumulated over millions of years each. So we are to believe that, for millions of years, nothing but deep maroon rock eroded from “somewhere” to be deposited, then for another age nothing but pale-green rock, then an age of nothing but chalk eroded from “somewhere”, and so on. Walking down the canyon wall, seeing how distinctive and pure the layers are, how much of it there is, how different each is, I just couldn’t believe this story.
I’ve since learned through various creation organizations about how the facts , like the GC, make much more sense from the perspective of a global (Noah’s) flood. I’ve learned how the layers can be explained by “hydraulic sorting”; even seen it demonstrated with a child’s toy. The toy is a sealed glass enclosure with water and various sands. You shake it up, then put it on a stand that gently rocks it (simulating lunar tides). In a few minutes, you see distinctive bands form that look strikingly like the canyon walls. It’s amazing how much can be explained if you start with the truth of God’s word.
Del, were you ever fearful? I remember going down the Potomac River in a canoe with the Sr. Pastor of a Church in Brunswick, Md. He was about eighty years young and I was told he had a heart condition at the time. I had never been canoeing before so the rapids caused us to capsize at least twice. The difference seems to be that even though no one wants to die, when you are a follower of Jesus, you know death is in his hands. But, I will admit I don’t won’t to be seriously injured …. Del, thanks for the blog.
The awesomeness of God and His creation, as experienced by His created.
Just to look up to vast expanse of stars , hear the rushing waters and observe wildlife. Sharing a life changing experience and laughter with a select few will forever leave a mark on your life.
Thank You for sharing
In Him and For Him Be Amazed and Thankful
JKSnyder
The Truth Project class on Long Islane
Del,
About the time you were rafting the Colorado, my wife and I were hiking down into that magnificent Canyon from the North Rim and back. As we climbed 4,200 feet in 7 miles another hiker taught us the hikers short and breathless prayer: “Lord, lift my feet. I’ll put ‘em down.”
Doesn’t all creation, especially the Grand Canyon, beautifully reflect God’s glory? Its vastness and power also humbles us as we become convinced that our lives truly depend upon Him as we journey through this world.
your brother in Jesus and in the Canyon,
Don
Del,
I, too, very much hope to experience the Grand Canyon some day. In about two weeks my fifteen year old twin sons and I will hike(hopefully) up Barr Trail to Pike’s Peaks summit. My third time, their first. The beauty of the mountains(or canyons, sunrise/set, or a non-light polluted night sky) just screams out at me that there is a Creator.
Our God is an awesome God!
God Bless.
Dear Del, You have touched our hearts so deeply through the Truth Project and so I can only thank you too for this account of the beauty and adventure of the Canyon. What a blessed way to draw near to the Lord in His creation!
We know Tom Vail through his wonderful book which was in the spotlight at the same time our praise plaques, praising the Lord for His creation, were being questioned by the ACLU. So we know it was a very informative trip too. To God be the Glory for all He has done! Thank you for sharing, Sister Georjean
Brother Del,
How can you describe sitting in the hollow of God’s hand? You may have done it!
Mark Hurd
Bartlesville, OK
Del;
What an awesome trip that must have been. I know what you mean when you said it wasn’t easy. The incredible things you must have witnessed, and to think, God created it that way…to make Himself known “…so that man has no excuse.” Thanks for taking us all on your journey with you, thank you for sharing. May God Bless You.
Never been down in the canyon, but my family and I went to the canyon rim at night with no moon and a clear sky and the stars above were jaw droppingly magnificent!. The milky way, our galaxie, stood out so plain and there were so many stars that we could not pick out the common constellations. Thanks for sharing!
Having been to the Grand Canyon a few times, always from the top of the South Rim looking across and down; it is amazing to see, as a Christian, how big God is; but just as sad, for the non-Christian, to see just how small they are.
Interestingly enough, while there, a tour guide told our group that “scientists” are now beginning to believe that the Canyon was not solely carved by the waters of the Colorado river, since the source of the water is much higher than the top of the Canyon. They’ve had to concede that it might have been a flood.
Dear Del,
I frequently feel the way you describe. I know that God has promised us a farm (He has work for us there). When people ask me, a city girl to explain how I could ever consider moving my city family to the country and the unknown the look at me like i’m so crazy. I know that it is to be simply because when I am there at someone’s farm or out in nature it is the only time that I feel complete peace. I can breath and I know that He is there with me and there seems to be no hinderance to communicating with Him. I am not foolish though, and realize that can change with the busyness of farm life - so I am teaching myself and hopefully to some extent my husband and son that working, is not the same as busyness and to keep time for God so that the peacefulness will remain. I keep my farm visits with me for as long as possible and then I pull them out like photo albums and review them so that I never forget the pure simple joy of living with the Lord.
Kim
Del,
The canyon sounds amazing! I went with my family last year and we got to gaze at the vastness of it all. However, we did not get to go inside the canyon and discover all the wonders that lie within. I hope that sometime in the future my family will be able to do that.
Del,
I think that this experience could lead into another phase of the Truth Project/The Canyon. As we are taken out of our every day landscapes and into the vast explosion of the Lords creation we are changed. We are changed in a way as we are with meditation and prayer, we have to be quiet we have to come to the end of ourselves in a way. The canyon can quietly take us into the the Lords great playground where He defies us to think these things could ever be formed without His glory. I surely hope that you will bring this Canyon experience into a very special commentery for us all. Thank you for the Truth Project. I was greatly blessed by the concise and reverent way in which it was delivered. It is a great blessing as it goes world wide, the Lord will be lifted up! May the Lord bless and keep you! Liz
Del - I’ve hiked across the canyon twice with my son, in both directions, and Phanton Ranch is my favorite place on this physical earth (so far). Your experience makes me want to be there again right now: Incredibly awesome and thought-provoking place!
Del-
Thanks for taking the time to give us the words and pictures - I don’t know which I enjoyed more. I was beginning to imagine myself taking a similar trip . . . right up to the point where I saw all that white water with the “baby-blue, WWII vintage rubber rafts” beneath it.
John