Reflections of Beauty

Silence prevailed the first of this year as, instead of having nothing to say, I was able to take a much needed vacation with my beloved husband.  During this time, we actually had two main destinations:  a friend's wedding in Pennsylvania, and another location planned by my dear, sweet Richard.  Both locations were wonderful to see, especially since my mother was home with the children and it was just the two of us for five wonderful days!

We drove up to Pennsylvania to a friend's wedding.  There we got a chance to visit with others we only have the opportunity to see once a year while sharing in the magic of watching a couple in love start their lives' journey together.  The night before the wedding was spent seeing the excited bride and groom to be, as well as visit with friends who gather annually to work a national high school academic quiz bowl tournament, otherwise known as NAQT.

The day of the wedding was beautiful!  It was cold enough to snow, yet warm enough to not feel as if we were going to get frostbitten by walking outside for a bit.  The mountains were glorious and the people were friendly.  The wedding itself was divine, and the reception was just as lovely as the newly joined couple shone as brightly as the glistening snow under the glow of the sun.  The occasion was even more lovely as we rang in the new year celebrating their union.

The next day, we drove further north, to Buffalo, New York, and beyond, to the location my Richard has described to me over the years and finally had a chance to see me look upon for the first time with my own eyes.  I beheld one of the most majestic and wondrous sights of all creation.  I gazed  upon the power of Niagara Falls and saw so much more than I ever imagined.  The falls from the American side were fantastic enough as it was, but it wasn't until we crossed the Rainbow Bridge into Canada that we got the full beauty of these giant cascading fountains!

There are two sets of falls separated by Goat Island, a smallish sort of island, but large enough to cause the water to divide into two separate currents as it curves around toward the edge of the cliffs.  The American Falls are over a thousand feet long and straight, and there is even a separate area within them called the Bridal Veil Falls.  Seeing its pure simplicity, I can understand why it is so named.  The other waterfall is on a rounded piece of river, and is aptly named the Horseshoe Falls due to the shape it has taken over the centuries. 

We took a tour behind the falls, which I would highly recommend, and actually got to go down and see the falls in all their might from underneath and behind and beside.  We only saw them at half strength, where, even so, they are quite fearsome and beautiful all in the same breath.  Even during this time, 19 million gallons of water flow every minute from the cliffs down to the river below.  It is astonishing to consider this force of nature!

At the foot of the falls, the water crashes onto the rocks below.  So powerful is the force that the water can reach the bottom and rebound higher still, jump up, and spray people on the sidewalk at the top of the falls.  The second day we were there, snow fell, and from what it appeared, even the water from the mist of the Horseshoe Falls turned to flakes before our eyes, displaying yet another wonder of the majesty of this creation made not of human hands.

As we stood admiring this beauty, and as I took out my camera to get every view imaginable captured onto film in color, black and white, and sepia, a thought began to form in my mind, and I pondered.  I saw the American Falls on my country's soil.  I am a citizen, born and raised, in the United States of America.  The falls are part of the landscape of the USA.  But one cannot perceive its true beauty by standing on her soil.  No.  One cannot truly respect and admire Niagara Falls unless one crosses over into Canada.  She will never know her own true beauty.  One has to step outside of her to realize it.

The bride does not realize her own beauty; the groom sees nothing else.  One cannot recognize the beauty of the American Falls within her borders, but rather one has to step outside to truly grasp their significance.  We do not truly understand our own worth.  All three are magical mysteries, unknowable, and seemingly unattainable, but all are infallible truths. 

We see ourselves, and sometimes our circumstances, through a glass, darkly, as though it is foggy or smeared.  But in fact, if we could only step outside and see things as they truly are, we would realize the diamond in the rough.  We would feel the power of the water as it crashes down and almost leaps for joy to spread itself to the people above.  We would see the pool below, serene and calm, almost still in comparison, spreading life only because of what the water has endured to reach the bottom.  We would see, as I can't begin to fathom, but am beginning to somehow realize is true, that there is something in each of us that is so powerful and beautiful, a source of light and life, that can only be seen and admired by another.  We would realize that we are truly fearfully and wonderfully made.