The Endless Stretch of Hope
The glaring sun burned my neck and I felt sweat trickling down my back. Five minutes out of the car, and I was already dying of heat! I forced my weary legs to trudge on the winding path. I felt like falling down, but commanded myself to go on ‘If you’re here now, you might as well look at it,’ I thought. But stumbling some more, I started to feel annoyed. Was it really that amazing?
“Come on!” my parents’ voices disrupted my thoughts, and it took me a moment to realize I was there. Finally, I was at The Grand Canyon. I jogged the remaining path to the railing. Not expecting much, I shielded my eyes and looked down.
The sight left my breath in my throat. The canyon seemed to stretch forever, a jagged formation that towered both high and low above the ground with gleaming granite rock. The Colorado River, a bright shade of blue against the red, brown, and white of the rock dotted the scene with a delicate tint, and patches of green shrubs added to the array of colors.
Abruptly, my annoyance was gone, replaced by sudden optimism. Instead of burning, the sun was just a warm life source as it shone against the blue sky down to the daring peaks and gentle curves of rock. The whole scene, the whole world, suddenly seemed beautiful. Beautiful in every way!
Thinking at it now, I realize that the Grand Canyon changed me in a simple, yet important way. How did the tiny Colorado River run through those tons of rocks, and shape it so beautifully? How is the Grand Canyon even possible? I believe it just requires strength, courage, and determination. With those tools, along with believing, anything can happen.
The Grand Canyon is hope. It shows anything can come true, if you give it time. It’s not only one of nature’s greatest wonders, but taught me how to truly appreciate the world, to show us to never give up, and to remind us of our limitless imagination. So if a river can shape this world, why can’t I?
