We were recently ministering in Oregon and had an opportunity to visit the beach near Seaside for a day. Standing at the edge of the vast expanse of water with an immense dome of sky over my head, viewing a horizon that stretched farther than the limit of my sight, I was awed by the immensity of God’s Creation. The continual pounding power of the surf reminded me of the awesome power of our Creator. “Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.” (Ps. 21:13)
The next day we travelled up the Columbia Gorge along the interstate highway with monumental vertical walls of volcanic basalt hemming us in on one side and the mighty Columbia River on the other side. The seemingly endless varieties of beautiful green vegetation lined both sides of the gorge, swaying and bending from a stiff, blowing wind. Numerous majestic plunging waterfalls added to the magnificent scenery.
Traveling out of Bingen, WA, up the ascending, narrow, winding Cook-Underwood road we came to an overlook of the Columbia Gorge. Over a thousand feet below was a grand view of where we had traveled earlier that day. What a different perspective! I could see what appeared to be small vehicles traveling along the bridge and roads we had crossed earlier. Dozens of colorful wind and parasail surfers scurried across the white capped river, frolicking in the brisk wind. Tugboats pushing loaded barges plowed along the mighty Columbia. The huge walls of basalt and abundant plant life could still be seen, but now on a different scale. To the south could now be seen the towering, snowcapped vista of Mt. Hood. All around was a world that seemed to stretch to infinity. It puts me in awe of my Creator!
“I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.” (Ps. 145:5)
Lanny Johnson
