While in British Columbia, we spent some time in an area called Desolation Sound. It’s a popular boating destination for those who are adventurous enough to leave the marinas, restaurants, wine bars, and coffeehouses behind. Out there, you anchor out, away from all amenities, and make do with what you brought with you. But the payoff far surpasses any sacrifice required to be there.
It’s some of the prettiest country you’ll ever see. We anchored near a waterfall that thundered over granite cliffs and dropped a hundred feet onto the rocks below. More than once, we hiked through old growth forests that were so primeval that it felt like no person had ever set foot there before. Of course, the trail itself indicated otherwise, but it was easy to imagine. Moss covered everything, and nothing stirred. There was no birdsong, no drone of insects, no rustling in the undergrowth. It was so hushed you felt like you needed to whisper. The word ‘cathedral’ came to mind as you walked.
Then suddenly, the forest would open up and reveal the mirror-like surface of a hidden alpine lake. Here again, there was no sign of civilization or habitation – no deserted buildings, no overgrown roads, no indication that anyone had ever been there before. It was so quiet you could hear the wind sighing through the trees. Time always seemed to lose its meaning as we sat in the beauty and solitude.
After leaving Desolation Sound, as we headed back down to the States, we made a stop in a little mountain town called Squamish. To get there, you sail up Howe Sound, which is worth the trip all on its own. It’s absolutely beautiful, with towering mountains covered in deep green forests rising all around you, making you feel very small. It’s tempting to believe you’re somehow sailing past Grand Teton National Park in landlocked Wyoming. But the beautiful turquoise glacier-melt water convinces you otherwise.
Squamish sits at the very end of the Sound and used to be a thriving logging community back in the day. Nowadays, it’s known as an outdoor adventurist hotspot, drawing world-class mountain bikers, rock climbers, windsurfers, and kiteboarders. We saw them all.
While there we took the Sea-to-Sky Gondola up to the top of one of the mountains overlooking the town. The view was spectacular. It was fun to see Howe Sound from a bird’s eye view, knowing we had just been traversing those waters. You can find hiking trails on the summit by crossing over a suspension bridge, and even make your way to an overlook of a high mountain waterfall. As is always the case for us, what we enjoyed the most were those things not made by human hands.
The beauty of Desolation Sound and Howe Sound isn’t just scenery; it invites you to look beyond what we can see. I believe the very character of God is revealed to us through His Creation. The sheer scale of the universe displays His power and majesty. The complexity of its laws shows His wisdom and order. The reliability of the seasons, the tides, and the sunrise and sunset reveal His faithfulness. We see His beauty and creativity in the immense variety of colors, textures, and creatures. And we recognize His goodness and care in the way He provides air, water, and ecosystems that sustain life. All we have to do is look around… He shows Himself everywhere.
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. Romans 1:20
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