Reflections on Yosemite Falls

Hanging over the fireplace in our home is a beautiful picture of Yosemite Falls given to us by our friend and talented photographer, Steve Koch. That picture brings back many wonderful memories of time spent in California’s Yosemite National Park—camping, backpacking, hiking, horseback riding, skiing and even floating down the Merced River as it flows through the valley.

Steve happened to take this picture during a time when the falls were at their best. Depending on the season and the amount of snowfall in the surrounding peaks during the winter, there might be just a trickle of water. However, any time of the year, it was always awesome to walk to the base of the lower waterfall and look upwards.

It was an amazing experience, one of sensory overload...the sound of roaring water as it poured over the face of the cliff and pounded on the boulders below; feeling the cold spray on our bodies even from some distance away; seeing the spectacular beauty capped by an occasional rainbow; awed and feeling very insignificant by the demonstration of sheer power! One has to be there in person to appreciate it!

In past years, we hiked along the steep trail making switchbacks all the way to the top of the falls. It was well worth the effort, with breath-taking views. I gained a greater appreciation of the distance the water had to go as it bounced off slick granite walls and rocketed downward until it reached the valley below.

There was a guard rail at the very top keeping people at a safe distance from the edge. Warning signs with a picture of a hiker falling were enough to convince us to be cautious! That same guard rail is visible in our picture, but tiny and difficult to see.

I also just recently noticed the brilliant color of the trees in the foreground of the picture. Our friend expertly chose just the right time of day so that the evergreens in the foreground seem to pop out at the viewer, with the falls cascading behind them like a silvery ribbon.

Because they drink from a steady supply of water year round, those particular trees look green, lush and healthy. We have seen other places in the park where large numbers of trees are dying, perhaps due to drought conditions, pollution, attack from insects and other factors. But the trees surrounding the lower falls are flourishing.

Whether looking from above or below, far away or close up, Yosemite Falls is a fabulous place for taking pictures, as evidenced by Steve’s handiwork. Whenever we had the opportunity to visit, Al would have his camera handy, stopping every few yards to take another one. There was always plenty of time to revel in the natural beauty around me!

Once we happened to stop near a group of schoolkids on a field trip who were standing in a single file line, waiting to have their pictures taken. Their guide positioned them on the path one at a time with their sides to the waterfall, heads tilted backwards and mouths wide open for the photos. It looked exactly like the water was pouring into their mouths from a giant faucet!

What a great illustration of the invitation given several places in the Bible for those who are spiritually dried out and thirsty, longing for renewal, to come to God and “drink.” One such occasion happened during a conversation that Jesus had with a Samaritan woman as he was sitting by a well near the town of Sychar, thirsty and tired from a long journey.

When he asked the woman for a drink from her water jar, she wondered why he was even talking to her. Jews didn’t normally mingle with Samaritans. Jesus gave a curious response: “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10) He was offering the gift of eternal life, living water, if she would only ask… and as it turned out later in that same chapter, she accepted that invitation!

Living water, available through faith in Jesus Christ! Why not come to him, open wide your heart and “drink?” He loves you!

“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” John 4:13-14 NIV