After telling a friend about our plans to take a (reflecting, listening, creating, writing contemplating) trip, she prayed and asked God to “show off” for us. Her prayer created anticipation, eager expectation, and a desire to see how God shows up and shows off.

And when we’re looking, its amazing what we can see.

On the first day, wildflowers of blues, purples, oranges, yellows and reds blanketed the roadside like a patchwork quilt and wispy white angels floated in the cirrus clouds above.

As we put the miles behind us, I tried but didn’t do very well in setting aside distractions, problems and worries. I was still too “connected.”

So of course the Lord would have our first couple of nights and our drive over the next three days in locations with no cell coverage and no internet. (Okay, maybe I found and frantically used the locations where we did have coverage but they were few and far between). I definitely need more practice in being in the moment.

In the moments of practicing, I couldn’t help but see.

A gorgeous sunset shortly followed by moonset over the Davis Mountains prepared my heart, despite the twenty-five degree drop in temperature that left me shivering (really, 75 is cold?)

As Jon took pictures and I snuggled with my furry ten-pound lap warmer, we watched evening light slowly fade as the sun pulled the last light of day over the horizon, replacing the sky with a canopy of dark velvet scattered with tiny dots of light as the stars came out one by one.

On the second day, a little less connected and a little more present, I continued to seek.

A tiny white flower in a barren landscape

Purple cactus dotting a back drop of yellow and brown

Sunlight splashing off canyon walls towering above me and the wind rustling through the bamboo as it blew down the canyon

The cool water on my feet as I waded into the Rio then wiggling my toes on a sandy path along the river banks

Another gorgeous sunset viewed through a “window” between peaks in the mountains

Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door (window?) will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7, GNT)

The list could go on and on, because if we look, we will always see how God shows off in a thousand different ways.