Watching the sun rise over the Grand Canyon on Easter morning was worshipful, but a bit anticlimactic. The sun came up and the canyon, for the most part remained dark. But just you wait. The secrets of this place are revealed over time and repetition.

The first time you stand on the edge of its huge chasm and feel the expanse of this vast hollowed out hole is breathtaking, but repeating sightings — which is pretty much the only way you can experience it — can prove a bit boring, at least I could see that from Chandler’s perspective. You come to it from a new angle, and, sure enough … there it is. Once you’re over the initial impact, the canyon doesn’t do anything; it just sits there. Now if you could brave the rapids of the Colorado River below or skydive down into its depths, that might be something, but just to look gets old without patience and a deeper understanding.

The Grand Canyon is primarily a canvas across which God draws his brush as the sun arcs overhead, revealing changes in color and shadow, mixing with the often-volatile weather to create an ever-changing masterpiece of color and grandeur. You see this in the thousands of photographs that have captured the painting in a moment in time — no one exactly like the other. You have to have patience with this process.

About the second day, I realized the way to truly experience this place would be to spend an entire day, from sun up to sun down, sitting in one place and watching God draw his brush across it. Read, pray, think, meditate and take it in. Some things are just meant to be experienced this way. Like the slower traveled Route 66, time reveals treasures.

This whole trip began with Chandler announcing his desire to take a motorcycle trip with me to the Grand Canyon when he was old enough. I decided, why not go now in preparation for that so we would know what we wanted to do there the second time. After being there, he has revised his wish. He now wants to take a motorcycle trip with me over the old entire historic route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica (something that can now be done aided by only a few sections of Interstate). The stakes have just gone up, but I’m game. (More on that tomorrow.)

I must admit, that will be some trip, but at the same time, the Grand Canyon will still be there standing as a silent witness to the power and creativity of God. Perhaps Chandler will want to make a stop there, just to make sure.