I was incredibly lucky to experience nature in her finest display of beauty this past weekend in Zion National Park, Utah. Throughout my time there,  a thought seemed to echo again and again in my mind that reaffirmed my appreciation and love for nature.

Man will always be able to replicate the design of man-made objects, but man will never be able to replicate the design of nature. 

Take a moment and think of the most breathtaking man-made object that you have ever seen in person, on the Internet, in a book, or even through the vivid descriptions of another person. Perhaps you are seeing a cathedral,  skyscraper, or even a castle? For me, what comes to mind is the Statue of Liberty. In a trip to New York in high school, I was fascinated by the history of the Statue of Liberty and all the labor that was exerted to transport it from one side of the ocean to the other. And even more so, the intricate design that went into creating the face, crown, torch, and all the other pieces that give the Statue of LIberty her near human like look. Since high school, I have been blessed to travel and see many other magnificent sights constructed by the innumerable hours of planning, designing and constructing, of man.

And while these objects are undoubtedly stunning and will continue to be sights for millions to see, I couldn’t help but wonder how capable we, as human beings are in replacing such objects. Sure, it might take x amount of years, energy, money, and resources to do it, but eventually, I personally think it can be done. This observation hasn’t made me appreciate man-made objects any less, but it has certainly elevated my love for nature. There is just something so cool in seeing something that you know can never, and will never be replaced in its physical entirety both now in 2013 and a million years from now.

Now take a moment and think of the most breathtaking moment of nature you have experienced in person, seen on the internet, in a book, or even through the vivid descriptions of another person. Perhaps you are seeing a canyon, an ocean, or even a waterfall? For me, what comes to mind is the “Angel’s Landing” hike I did in Zion National park this morning. After an hour of grueling incline up through the canyon and having to even use chains at one point, I was awarded with a magnificent view of the surrounding peaks and the whispers of the mountain top breeze. But what impressed me the most was when peeking down the steep side of the nearest cliff by me, the details of every line and brilliance of colors engraved into its side. Then I looked at another cliff and saw a dissimilar arrangement of lines and colors and again at a different cliff. I started to bring back this thought of how man would even begin designing and building these cliffs and after a few minutes of brainstorming, I simply laughed, shook my head, and smiled.

Again, my goal here is not to belittle man-made objects and all the hard work and resources that are invested in it, but to introduce a fresh perspective into nature and how one can find new appreciation for it. So please, the next time you’re out hiking, backpacking, or even peeking out the window from a plane, take a few seconds and just ponder about the uniqueness and irreplaceable wonders of nature.

Cheers,
AL