THE BEAUTY OF CREATION

O LORD, how manifold are your works!
    in wisdom you have made them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.

[Psalm 104:25 BCP Psalter]

One of the goals I set for myself when I first retired in 2020 was to improve my photography skills.

I wrote about this a couple of years ago (see link above) and I want to come back to the topic because hopefully this time around I will devote a greater portion of my free time to achieve that pursuit.

I own a pretty decent camera, a Nikon D7500 SLR, which I often carry in the back of my car for whenever the opportunity to capture that perfect photo may present itself.

Of course, with the improvement of mobile phones, everyone is a photographer these days. There is never a time when a special moment cannot be captured. I, however, still favor the feel of a real camera in my hand. It gives me a greater sense of control. Call me snobbish if you will.

I have a few friends who are professionals in the craft, and I don’t delude myself into thinking I will ever possess their talent. They spend hours looking for the ideal moment, waking up before dawn or sitting in the freezing cold just to be able to eternalize that image that is worth a thousand words. I don’t possess that level of determination or energy.

A few days ago, on an impulse, my curiosity took me to Gorge Metropolitan Park in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. It was a beautiful, albeit humid, day. I had dropped my son off after our weekly get-together, and I didn’t feel like going back home just yet.

I have lived in Northeastern Ohio for just about all of my adult life and yet, I had never set foot inside the park. I had heard a lot about its breathtaking scenery over the years, so I drove into the parking lot and pulled out my camera.

The central showcase of the park is the Cuyahoga River. It may surprise some to know that the river is U-shaped, beginning in Geauga County to the east of Cleveland, flowing south to Summit Country before returning north and emptying into Lake Erie. “Cuyahoga,” meaning crooked river, is the name the Mohawk Indians gave it.

According to the Gorge Metro Park website, the Cuyahoga River Gorge was cut when glacial debris blocked the former route of the waterway (near present-day downtown Akron) and caused the river to find a new course.

Of course, I researched all of this after my visit, so I may have missed some of the more picturesque areas of the park on this, my first sojourn. All of which means another trip is in the plans for the future.

Unfortunately, several of the trails are closed to the public until 2026 while the Gorge Dam is being removed. That project is another topic for another day.

The letdown for me was that I couldn’t get close enough to the river to get photos of it, so I was limited to the upper trails. I was also wearing sandals which made for a somewhat challenging and uncomfortable walk.

Yet the day wasn’t a total loss as I was able to capture shots of some amazing rock formations and countless numbers of chipmunks that seemed to be everywhere.

I find nature fascinating. There is so much beauty in the world. I find moments like these invigorating. It is easy to lose track of time.

My mind is immediately drawn to the Psalms of creation:

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
 What is man that you should be mindful of him?
    the son of man that you should seek him out?
Psalm 8:4-5

The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the firmament shows his handiwork.
Psalm 19:1

The earth is the LORD’S and all that is in it,
    the world and all who dwell therein.
Psalm 24:1

I know a lot of hikers. They live for these types of adventures.

For me, they are more meaningful when spontaneous, not prearranged.

One might argue, however, that it’s more advantageous to plan ahead in order to experience the maximum benefits of such an outing.

Perhaps.

But for me, this day was inspiring enough to motivate me to want more; whenever the mood hits me, of course.