No Permit Needed 2016- Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Colorado

June 24, 2016

No Permit Needed 2016- Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Colorado

What: No Permit Needed 2016
Who: Trubys, Reyes-Ortiz, Hardins, Moore's, Hendrix's, and Pasquels
Where: Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Zion, Bryce, Fisher Towers, Carbondale area Colorado!
When: 6/8-6/19

"His belief is that all creation is an interconnected web of life, and his conviction that immersion in the natural world will heal the weary, stressed, overworked urban dweller." John Muir

Jeremy said his kids were the best versions of themselves when out on these adventures...Chad then added WE were as well. Thought much about this...and I couldn't agree more. We are our best when we are together...especially in places we connect and interact with. We are part of the Creation story and when we are with each other, in these wild beautiful places, it's easier to let go of what burdens us and focus on what gives us life.

Admittingly, its hard to do the same at home. We are consumed people. I am consumed by much. Some of it matters...ya know, work stuff, kids, the house, workouts, dinner, hobbies, weekends, bills...A lot of it doesn't. But as a whole, it sums up to a busy life that does not lend much time to adoration and worship. By the end of the day, I have flipped through the catalog of work, chores, and kids and all I want is Ben and Jerry's and a rerun of Seinfeld. Life is busy at times, so when He shows up...I am stuck somewhere between a cup of coffee on the way to work and sportscenter highlights before bed.

But when those distractions are stripped away, and all that is left to consume is Him...we can't stop the inevitable. We transform from busy and tired people to the absolute best version of ourselves. Bible says "to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Eph 4-24 We are created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness! And we are made righteous and holy through the cross...Is there a better version than this???

How do we "put on" our new selves or the best version of ourselves? We start with Proverbs 4:25. It says, "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you." It starts by recognizing what has always been in front of you...and setting aside the periphery. Sure, when I look into the void of the Grand Canyon or look up at the Zion Temples...it's easier to come to a place of worship. There is nothing else that matters in that moment but appreciation of what I see. I am thankful, amazed, and moved. The emotions that stir inside always brings me closer and my gaze stays fixed on what matters most. This gaze straight before leads me towards whatever is honorable, whatever is just, and pure, and commendable (Phil 4:8). By living accordingly to these callings, I ultimately find what matters most: loving God and loving others (Mark 12:30-31). It's no mistake Jesus says "there are no greater commandments than these." Which leads me to this conclusion:

We are the best version of ourselves, when we love God and we love others. This is life. Its that simple (not easy, but simple). These No Permit Needed trips are reminders of how we are called to live: Loving/In worship of God, with one another, in community...keeping our gaze ahead. We begin to understand that we are connected to Him...and connected to each other...connected in Creation. Pretty cool...

Bonus- With this group, the periphery stuff is also pretty dang great: mud, tires, tents, caravans, cookouts, beer, swimming, Sean's fake smile, bugs, climbing, coffee, full moons, stickers, food allergies, fierce boys, more beer, hiking, "safety third", BLM land, Jeremy's inability to show emotion, international spacestation sightings, sweet girls, bouldering, dirt, "snacks", sweet boys, laughter, night caps, Sean's loud snoring (blaming other camper), fierce girls, Asian tourists, Brad's anger towards "White Man", $5 gas/gallon rip off, tornadoes in desert, NPN shirts, wading, dirty looks in Aspen, smores and much much more!