Long in the Making

Today I went on an adventure to Arches National Park in Utah. I was amazed by the natural scenery that we encountered. My favorite sight was the Delicate Arch, which is depicted on many Utah license plates. While I was at the park I learned about how this (and 2000 other) beautiful arches were formed. Initially, some seismic event caused rifts to form in the solid beds of rock. Then, as rain fell, water pooled and slowly eroded away the rock and widened the rifts until the arches and other striking features were formed.

On the car ride home I was thinking about this, and I came to the realization that the formation of these arches is very similar to how we as human beings develop our character. Initially, we are like flat and common slabs of rock, but at some point we realize a need for change. Something within calls us to be better, and we break down--usually due to our own flaws or mistakes. In this state of humility, we allow truth from heaven to shape us to become something of far greater beauty. At first large changes are required, and then over time the fine details of our character are rounded out. The final product is something so natural and good that it could not have been the result of our efforts alone. Remember that God is shaping you into the person that He foresees, so be patient in this long process until you develop character as breathtaking as the Delicate Arch.