Oct 3, 20213 min read

Sunrise to Sunset in the Tetons

Soft orange light rests on the mountains as melodic music plays. The drone of the road beneath the tires fills my ears as we pass through countless fields at the end of a perfect day. Sunrise to sunset; from day break to the last of the evening light, we immersed ourselves in the beauty of these peaks. Color blooms effortlessly across the valley, signaling the coming end of another year. The crowds have slimmed through the national park, with exceptions of course, leaving room for ponderous thought in moments of serene silence.

Our day began with driving to the pass and on to Jackson. We settled in for lunch and set up our hammocks in the quiet groves of Schwabacher's Landing. 2 wedding groups came and went, taking full advantage of the last of the fall leaves before the then browning leaves would retire to the forest floor. We made a few stops north, then made our way south to Jackson to return home. We spotted two stout moose with large antlers in the river valley. Having spent the last three years trying to photograph moose this time of year, I was ecstatic to finally capture a glimpse of my favorite animal with their remarkable racks in tow!

This was a needed trip, a break from school and work. A time to reflect and soak up the peace so tangibly felt in the Tetons. I can testify these mountains are picturesque no matter what time of year you go, and because there is so much to see and do there it can be hard to pause and take it in. I hope someday you can go with the goal to pick a spot or two and just feel. Feel the world pass by, the seasons change, the animals roam, the day come and go, and feel the unforgettable presence of the mountains! I hope you can find that peace where you are now. Pause for a moment, feel where you are now, appreciate that moment. That breath you are taking, the good that surrounds you. Leave your anxieties and fears for a moment. They won't go anywhere, you can come back to them. Take that time to reflect on the good, the peace, the hope. Heal for a moment. Allow yourself to do so, please!

I work at a job where we take medical alarm calls. I am reminded daily that life is fleeting. Pain is real and can strike suddenly and without warning. I've heard it been said that if only we could sense when we were in those golden days so often referred to. That way we could truly appreciate those moments. I dare say that perhaps there are golden moments within reach if we pause and search for them. Yes, you may be in the most difficult trial of your life, or in limbo, without purpose (it may seem), perhaps you feel overburdened, overwhelmed, alone, and lost. I get it. I understand, it is a crushing feeling that words alone cannot remedy. If I could only show you the peace I speak of, or paint the hope I declare and so fill you with it to the very top of your soul. Alas, it is not my place to heal and save. That has already been done by another. Whether you believe in him or not, I simply ask that you search for and take hold of the light: the good, the hope, the peace, the faith, the love, the forgiveness, the longsuffering, the patience. Grasp onto it and don't let go! Cry out and take courage. You can do this! I promise you, with that light within you, you can overcome all no matter how dark the night may feel.

"Midnight", by Coldplay, remains my favorite song of all time. I leave it here with a hope that is leaves an impression on you similar to what it has left on me. It reads:

In the darkness before the dawn

In the swirling of this storm

When I'm rolling with the punches and hope is gone

Leave a light, a light on

Millions of miles from home

In the swirling swimming on

When I'm rolling with the thunder but bleed from thorns

Leave a light, a light on

In the darkness before the dawn

Leave a light, a light on