On our first trip out here three years ago I was completely mesmerized by the rainbow of color in the rocks on the beaches of Olympic National Park. Aside from precious and semi-precious gemstones I had no idea rocks could be so brilliant and interesting. I took the basic freshman level geology course in college and nothing I learned from our textbook captured my attention like wandering the beach and picking up everything that caught my eye. I stopped and stooped every twelve yards. I’m sure it was worse than even a normal hike with me when I stop so often for photos.
This time around was no different, maybe worse because I knew those rocks were there waiting for us and I was on a mission to find the perfect glossy sage-hued stone. I had one from before and I used to hold it frequently so that it had developed a real glow it did not have when I first found it. It was lovely then, but now it was polished. When we were moving and packing I somehow misplaced it so I wanted another just like it to carry in my pocket. My pet rock.
We really only come in a small number of “shades” but our maker put into us such wondrous variation and beauty that He loves each of us as if we were the only ones of our kind. He could not part with any of us any faster than I could part with my rocks. He sees individuals with individual beauty and potential and He wants us to see each other the with the same eyes. If I don't get any other lessons out of this year on the road I hope that at least this one sticks with me a long, long time.
-Jenni