Caves of Wonder

Have you ever been in a cave? Recently my family and I came across, then toured the Grand Caverns in Grottoes, Virginia. History records that a 17-year-old named Bernard Weyer stumbled upon the cave in 1804 while retrieving a hunting trap. It was opened for public tours in 1806, making it the oldest continually operating show cave in the US. Our family’s time there only covered a portion of the 3.8-mile-long cave, but my senses were blown away.

Upon my initial descent into the cave, I was quickly taken aback by darkness held at bay by a few scant lights illuminating marvelous rock wonders to my eyes. The cool temperature on my skin was immediately noticeable. It turns out that due to the depth of the cave, it remains between 54- and 56-degrees Fahrenheit year-round, unchanged by any temperature above ground.

The silence in the cave at moments was deafening. Never in my life had I heard such a still quiet with my ears. Meanwhile my hands touched Cambrian limestone that made shield like formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, and other flowstone formations. (Yeah, I know I sound like a nerd, but you had to be there to appreciate it – trust me. Haha)

Despite all this, the one thing I could not shake before, during, or after my journey was the fact that this great cavern existed underground, all this time, with few ever even knowing it existed. I began to think to myself “I wonder how many amazing things in my life are in plain sight, or right beneath the surface that I’ve never truly appreciated?”

When pondering this thought, the saying, ‘Stop to smell the roses’ came to mind. The implication of this statement is that there is more to appreciate about a rose beyond what you see with your eyes. Yes, there is a beautiful fragrance awaiting your nose as well. But the delight of smell does not benefit the one who does not stop first to explore it.

First, I thought of the things around me. The sound of birds or even bugs that I have gotten all too used to hearing - but not appreciating. I thought of how I have taken for granted the beauty of the sky, a morning sunrise or evening sunset. How I have gotten familiar with the unique feeling of the touch of water or experiencing the warmth of the sun. Or just how the taste of food on my tastebuds is a remarkable thing and yet a reality that many in the world do without every day.

I thought of my wife, my kids, my friends, colleagues, or even perfect strangers. How in my haste, I often may I be missing the depths of wonderous things by not stopping to ‘smell the roses.’ Exploring the caverns of a relationship may mean pausing for a moment to truly see them. Maybe it means asking more thoughtful questions and listening with my ears and heart. Or perhaps it means taking the time to reach out and touch them with a hug or a high-five. What do you think?

The same applies to relationship with God. I asked myself, “in my haste am I taking moments to pause long enough experience Him with my whole being?” Jesus said in John 17:3 that “…this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God.” To truly get to know someone you have to be intentional. Oh, the depths of great wonder we can explore in God that is right there below the surface. This my friend is life. This is truly living. Only we must stop long enough to ‘smell the roses.’

What about you? What things in or around your life are worth exploring today? I encourage you to do it, then make a practice of it every day.

I'd love to hear how this thought is relevant for you today; or at some point how this thought after being put into action has helped you navigate your journey with others and with Jesus!