Cathedral Rock

If you want to rest a bit or calm down, this is a good place to meditate.

It feels like entering a grand, embracing presence—perhaps a motherly one?Here, you climb a smooth incline.As usual, we took a detour, but it was so hot that we took it easy—just getting to the side was tough.

Everyone was climbing together, so we followed along.

There were steep slopes, some brush, and we paused to rest.

As I watched the cliff, I heard rustling.

I wondered who would climb here.

Looking toward the sound, it was a young woman doing rock climbing with a pack.

Well, if you’re wearing that shirt and climbing a cliff, things might shift and you might unintentionally reveal more than intended.

I looked away.

She walked ahead of me.

Looking closer at her pack, it was obvious she was carrying an infant.

I was impressed.

My feet were sore from consecutive days in Sedona.

Still, I thought I might be able to make it to the last difficult spot.

There was a rest area just before the hard part that could seat four or five people; an elderly man was sitting there.

His wife tried to climb but gave up.

A younger person went ahead.

Halfway up there are places to rest, and everyone was considerate.

There is only room for one person in some stretches.

I gathered my courage and took the first step.

I gave up—it’s not for the less-than-young.

The older man later asked if I had made it to the top.

“No,” I answered, chatted a bit, and then descended.

I left feeling peace and serenity.

Thank you.