by Theodore Telepak

Created on: June 29, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

"Shifting Sand: A Dad's Perspective of How Teens Journey Through Life and Faith"

I have two teen age sons. What do I expect of them?

Last summer, a small group of dads from my church and I took our sons who were graduating from high school to the Grand Canyon. We wanted to commemorate this rite of passage' in a special way. And I learned something in the process.

We hiked into the canyon to camp several days near three glorious waterfalls. Havasu Falls rushes 100 feet down into beautiful, blue-green waters, Navajo Falls cascades into many smaller offshoots from about 75 feet, while Mooney Falls spectacularly drops from over 200 feet to inviting pools below. But we never would have gotten to experience such beauty and majesty, if we didn't dare to take on the journey within.

We rented some mules which would carry on their backs much of our gear. Cooking equipment, food supplies, and tents went down with these four-footed, rugged travelers who had made this trip in and out many times more than we ever would. They knew the way and what to expect. Perhaps we were overwhelmed with the excitement and blinded by anticipation of adventure.

The canyon seems massive. No, scratch that. The canyon IS massive. But it lures you within. You really can't prepare for it the first time you see it. The naked eye breathtakingly takes in something so much greater than you could ever really imagine. You know there must be more to behold within. If you ever find yourself standing at its rim, you will find people of every tongue, race, religion, and age journeying within; whether it be a few feet from its top, or to the waters at its bottom.

Our hike within started as expected. But even with the help of those mules, we each had a backpack full of whatever clothing we thought we may need and our sleeping bag. New pioneers probably over pack. No more than 25 pounds crammed in that back pack? That extra weight balanced on this dad's back seemed so much heavier. No matter, when fathers hang with a bunch of fairly athletic and strapping 18 year old sons, they can't but feel younger, stronger, and ready to just about anything!

My son, Gabe, and I, did well until the last two miles or so. The heat of the day, the weight of the packs, and literally sleeping near the rim at roadside the night before, took its toll. But it was more than that. I will never forget how hard the end of that hike was, and I never hope to because of what I learned from it.

Shifting sand. The closer we got to where we

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