What Will You See? – Snow
One of the surprising things to many who come to Northern Arizona is the fact that we have snow. And when I say snow, I mean not just a little, but quite a lot! In fact, Flagstaff is often listed as one of the top 10 snowiest cities in America each year. While we see a fair amount of it on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon as well, it pales in comparison to the North Rim. Being roughly a thousand feet higher in elevation than the South Rim, the North Rim typically sees 10–12 feet of snow each year.
If you’ve never seen the Grand Canyon clothed in freshly-fallen snow, you are missing out on something spectacular. While it rarely blankets the bottom of the canyon, the snow falling on the banded layers of the Supai Group near the upper reaches of the canyon creates a red and white candy cane display, arraying the canyon in a whole new veil of beauty. This glistening glory, like frosting on a multi-layered cake, is often seen on our rim tours and guided hikes during the winter season. It is also occasionally seen blanketing the rim above on our early season river trips.
The snow has a transformative effect on how we see the canyon. It reminds me of the transformative effect the blood of Christ Jesus has in how the Father sees us. Because of the selfless sacrifice of the promised Messiah, God is able to see us in a different way — no longer stained by our own sinful nature, but made clean and renewed by His Son, transformed in His glory. The gift of salvation God makes available to us far surpasses the grandness of this canyon, and tangibly demonstrates His love for us, which is far deeper than this mile-deep hole in the ground.
Even as I write this, I look out the window to see gracefully falling flakes making their way from the heavens to the earth, this very moment transforming the world around us. Thank you, God, for the beautiful reminder of snow.
“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 ESV
– Nate
