STAIRWAY FROM HEAVEN

It started as a conversation about how literal to take the Bible. Honestly, I was just trying to break the silence that nestled between the four of us as we perched on the shale, almost squatting on the slope just to get comfortable. A strong breeze persisted, turning the layer of sweat from the hour long hike into an uncomfortable damp blanket on our bodies. Perhaps because we all called Queen's University our alma mater and perhaps we all grew up with strong science backgrounds, all of us employed in areas where empirical evidence means livelihood. The conversation quickly led to creation and evolution. Darwin was quoted, not for his support of evolution but for his admission that something so complex can ONLY have come from a Creator. Anyways, our wraps were welcomed hungrily by our tummies and we all seemed pretty pleased with the somewhat post-modern, yet somehow pat, answers that we gave, convincing no one, really. All of a sudden, there was a loud thunderous roar. We looked to our right to a common alleyway at the end of the Point Of Six Glaciers hike. The rolling mist at the ridge's top wasn't too visible at first. But then, the first of the snow started falling. But "falling" would be the wrong word to use to describe what we witnessed. Unlike other straight drop avalanches that I've witnessed from this point, this one took the form of a waterfall, cascaded from the ridge and down one invisible step to another. The pile was slow at first but gained momentum as it dropped and changed direction with each step. The roar was now a gentle, but continuous rumble, and I had to keep reminding myself that what I was seeing were large, deadly chunks of snow and ice, not water. This avalanche lasted for more than 2 minutes, a lot longer than any I've ever witnessed. It was the most spectacular 2 minutes I have ever stood still for. Yet, it was definitely not the most silent. It was God speaking. He was saying "silly children. Don't get into arguments about this or that. It doesn't matter. I did this for you".









Resting by the tea house, on the way back.