The Beauty of Erosion: Arches

My experience in Arches National Park brought me face to face with what it means to weather, erode, and transform over time. As I walked the trails through the red rocks and gazed at the giant sandstone formations, I was in awe of both the force and the patience of nature. There was something mystical about the powerful combination of time and energy and the slow erosion of stone that created a striking, pure beauty. In nature, things change, they break free, fall away, let go. It's the normal cycle of things. A Park Ranger told me that most of the time, the erosion is a slow, gradual process, but every once in a while, there is a sudden breaking free. A big chunk of rock will fall away from an arch and the window to the sky will open up, larger, more expansive and more beautiful than before. It was a powerful metaphor for my own life. The sudden, unexpected loss of what I loved, the breaking apart of what I held dear, was not the end for me. Yes, my heart was terribly broken, but it was ultimately broken open. It was the beginning of a transformation. Something more expansive. It sounds strange to say that I'm grateful, but I am. I'm grateful for the erosion, the breaking free. It has revealed a beauty and a strength in myself that I didn't know was there. I can also see more beauty all around me, in ways I never could before. The window to my own life has opened up with a new perspective.

The native people of this region believed that the arches were a gateway to the spirit world. They believed that space and time are non-linear and that one can access different dimensions, through natural portals, such as arches. In the native tradition, walking underneath an arch can bring you spiritual awakenings and a closer connection to God. I believe there are many pathways to the divine and ways to connect with Spirit. When I walked among and through the sandstone arches I felt my own heart resonate with a universal power. I shared a moment of immense gratitude, appreciation, and awe for what I am learning and the way my life is unfolding.