Trinity Sunday (Romans 8:12-17)  06/03/2012

Listen to an audio recording <select here>

A few years ago my family decided to venture west for our summer vacation, starting our week in Las Vegas and ending our trip in Phoenix. The highlight of the vacation was a tour of the Grand Canyon and the surrounding area; we were all really looking forward to the many beautiful and amazing natural wonders of this area. My sister and her family were excited to join us and in the heat of early July we all headed west to explore sites unseen. The desert landscapes and the rugged terrain of Arizona were most memorable for me and we spent many days touring the great outdoors as a close family unit. We peered across the Grand Canyon in many spots (and carefully looked down into the Canyon every once in awhile), but the greatest family fun was a one day journey down the Colorado River, starting in northern Arizona. Floating down the river with the canyon walls reaching high around us on either side was an incredible experience; an experience that helped me to understand why these canyons have been considered sacred space for so many generations of people. Everyone was having lots of fun as we floated down the river, but about halfway through the day one of the kids in the family became affected by the heat and needed immediate attention. Everyone worked together to provide all that was necessary for the young family member in need, coming together to provide care and comfort in ways that people do when they love and depend on each other. Families of people come in many shapes and sizes, and families experience times of joy and challenge, but the essence of being together as a family is the ongoing endeavor of relationship, the ongoing work of being together for each other. Continue reading →