The World God Created

When I traveled to Peru, we had a choice to take the train to Machu Picchu or hike the Inca Trail to the site. I’m glad we chose to go via the Inca Trail because it was so interesting. It was a tough hike since we had to hike at altitude, but it was also rewarding because we got to see the area up close and experience the mountains and all kinds of flowers, streams, interesting scenery, and weather (even hail!). Experiencing the place became more rewarding to me, I think, by hiking there rather than taking the train. Slowing down and enjoying the sights and experiencing it at a much slower pace seemed the right way to go. 

I can easily remember the night we saw the stars, because in addition to seeing the Southern Cross for the first time, it was really cold. We all had to wear all the fleece and clothes we brought with us just to keep warm. Because there is very little stray light there, you can see the Milky Way in addition to the southern stars. This reminds me of the Bible verse, “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name” (Ps. 147:4, NIV).

The photos from Machu Picchu are of me and the traveling companions who we hiked and camped with along the Inca Trail. We traveled in a group of about twelve people with Sherpas, guides, and cooks. At the highest pass, I remember taking a few steps then stopping to breathe, then stepping forward a bit more and having to stop again.  The air is thin up at the highest pass—13,828 ft. (4,215 m)—and it was tough going, but we made it.

The other photos are from another trip, when I went to Bhutan with two friends. None of us had been to Bhutan before, so it was an interesting place to experience. One of the photos is of me at the prayer wheels in Thimphu. The other photo is of me and my two friends up on a mountain hike above the city. There are many natural areas there for hiking and exploring. Traveling is one way to experience and explore both the world God created and also the diversity of people God created. Being a traveler helps one appreciate the world, learn about it and the diversity of people, and also thank the One who created it all. “The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made” (Ps. 145:9).