Yesterday’s readings in the Daily Office brought me back around to Psalm 16. If I didn’t already use the first part of Psalm 27 on test days in class, I’d probably start using chunks of this one. It “works” on a number of different levels: devotional, confessional, Christological.
16:1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
The trip started with a late morning drive from Fresno with my friends and an itinerary made by my friend. The drive up (and down, actually) was beautiful. And long. So when we finally made it to the Tunnel View stop, I was both amazed and relieved. The view was as beautiful as I had hoped. From there, we drove past Bridalveil Falls and into the valley floor. We parked one of our two vehicles at Curry Village and made our way to Yosemite Lodge for some rental bikes. The rest of the afternoon was spent biking around the valley floor, where we ultimately ended up at Mirror Lake (which was neither thanks to the autumn weather). From there we made our way back to YL, dropped off our bikes, and drove back to Curry Village for a pizza dinner. My friends went with me to check in and check out my lodging for the night: a one-bed vinyl tent on a wooden platform with a metal locker outside for food and other things that might attract local bears. At that point, my friends left and I did my best to settle in for the night. I did some walking around that that point, checking out the general store and the communal lodge with its porch and comfy seating. I wanted to see as much of the quiet night sky as I could, but everywhere I went I found talking people, cars still pulling in for the night, and flashlights shining in all directions. Ah well. I did get a better sense of the quiet night sky when I woke up to tip-toe to the communal bathroom after midnight.
The next morning started with a decent amount of sleep achieved. I cleaned the tent up some and made my way to the lodge for breakfast: biscuits and gravy, eggs, and some Lucky Charms (a pleasant mixture of what I would usually eat at a camp). I checked out of the tent and then made my way by foot to Vernal Falls. It was quite the hike, but the view was worth it. After making my way back to the lodge, I took a cherry Coke break and then took the free shuttle to a few different sites in the valley: the Ahwahnee Hotel, lower Yosemite Falls, and finally the El Capitan Meadows. The meadows ended up being my favorite location, both because there were very few people there and because it had lots of trees along with the river.
At that point, I was pretty wiped out. I had thought about ending my trip with a visit to Glacier Point (at the suggestion of my friend), but after starting on the winding road out of the valley, I decided that I wouldn’t stop until I was somewhere in Oakhurst (a town between Yosemite and Fresno). I have to admit: I’m no fan of winding mountain roads without railing on the side.
Space Enough, and Time 