May 4, 2011
I love backroads and so travels in northern PA and western New York are always fun. I am up in my old home area of Houghton College. On Sunday I shared at the church I had attended while in college and spent some time with a family there. Since that time I have been visiting friends and professors around Houghton. The weather has not changed much since college in that it is still rainy and dreary but at the same time beautiful. Yesterday I decided that I was just too close to Letchworth State Park to not go over and see the falls. With all of the rain over the last few weeks, the falls and the river itself were a raging torrent. I stood above them and looked down, mesmerized by the power. One slip or accidental fall into the water would be the end. There would be no escaping the power of the water whipping through the canyon. Even the waves in the ocean have not put such fear in me as looking at that river. Staring at the Susquehanna River which was above flood stage on Saturday's drive north, was also nothing in comparison to the Genessee River.
Whenever I am in a place close to a powerful body of water, my mind wanders to the Lord and His mighty power. Psalm 77:16 says of the waters, "The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed... Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen." I am pretty sure this refers to the waters the Israelites passed through, but it is amazing to think of the Genesee River, in all of its current power, convulsing in the presence of God. My mind cannot comprehend His mighty power and His holiness. (I will post some pictures of the falls as soon as I can get them uploaded.)
I am now heading southward again but with one more stop on my way. I have a couple other road trips in the next 3 weeks before beginning my job. I doubt that any will involve quite as many backroads or raging waters but wherever I go, there is good fellowship. With all of the people whom I have also met while overseas on work teams, I feel like I know people in most of the country and many parts of the world. It is a blessing!
