What’s your favorite place to visit? How many times have you been there?
My favorite place is Yosemite National Park. I’ve visited hundreds of times, starting when I was four years old. Every time I go, I discover something new—but on a visit a couple of years ago—I discovered something that blew my mind!
One of the most prominent landmarks in Yosemite Valley is El Capitan. It’s a 3,000-foot-tall sheer piece of granite. Rock climbers ascend the face every year. If you want an adrenaline rush, watch the documentary Free Solo, about a guy named Alex Honnold who attempts to climb El Cap without any harnesses or ropes. Did he make it? You’ll have to watch and find out!
Anyway, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stared in awe at El Capitan, both with my naked eyes and binoculars. But on that mind-blowing day, I finally saw it! I squinted into the bright sunshine … could it really be? I opened the camera app on my phone and zoomed in. Yes—it is! There’s a heart in the middle of El Capitan!
Really … there is. Here’s proof!
Do you see it? If you don’t believe it, you can Google “El Capitan Heart”. Turns out others have seen it, too! Rock climbers have a name for that section—the heart ledges. Wow.
Why had I never seen the heart before? Hearts are one of my favorite things, yet I missed this one for so long. I guess I always focused on that massive rock as a whole piece—until the day when I took the time to look closer. I’m so thankful I did. Now when I gaze at El Capitan, I see the heart first, right there, smack dab in the middle.
What in nature have you seen so many times that you think you know everything about it? I dare you to look a little closer next time and see if you discover something new-to-you. God loves to blow our minds with his awesome creation.
Don’t miss it.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his workmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. Psalm 19:1-2 NLT
