Thoughts at Bright Angel Trail

Recently our daughter-in-law took an overnight solo hike into the Grand Canyon. She had planned it for a year as a personal celebration of turning 40. (Or, perhaps thumbing her nose at it.) She has been training for the adventure and is in great shape. She started out down the Kaibob Trail on a Saturday morning and Michael and his daughter and I met up with my son and our granddaughter at the Canyon that afternoon. We talked and laughed, had dinner together, and enjoyed each other's company, and arose the next morning anxious to greet the ambitious hiker.
As I ambled down the beginning of the Bright Angel trail hoping to get a photo of her triumphant return I was filled with gratitude that the program has not only given us the tools to repair family relationships and be welcome at such an event, but also has taught me how to get out of my self absorption and feel a genuine joy in another's acomplishments. I smiled my thanks to that awesome expanse.