A Teahouse, A Pit Toilet, and the Aftermath of a Great Flood

I’m amazed that I can continuously be blown away by nature. There are so many unique elements that each time I’m in creation, it almost seems unreal. Too good to be true. But that’s how God created it.

God spoke and creation became. It didn’t take three months for a restaurant to be built or a community to come to fruition. He spoke, and it was there. And it was good.

Genesis speaks to creation and the evil that began to invade the perfect world God had brought to life. It started with Adam and Eve, but many years passed, and sin continued. God instructed Noah to build an ark because a flood was going to destroy the earth. God had plans to irradicate sin and start over with Noah and his family and the animals on board the ark.

This is not new to us. We know these stories because we heard about them all the time in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. What baffles my mind though is how long Noah had to persevere and follow God’s command. It was a 75-year wait from when God told Noah the flood was coming and when it came. 75 years! No one believed Noah had heard from God.

Years passed and the flood did come. The world as it had been created was no more. Everything was destroyed except for what/who was on the ark with Noah.

With the promise from God that He would never again destroy the entire world, we have what we can see with our eyes today. Sure, there’s a lot that has been manipulated by man but when we get out of town and into nature, we see untouched land.

Hiking in the Canadian Rockies was nothing short of amazing. The steep, rocky cliffs, and glacier views atop pristine emerald green water. Nature was and is respected. There is no litter. The air is calm and quiet. It smelled like I was walking through a Christmas tree farm.

It was quite the trek up the mountain as we ascended the twists and turns. We had to take breaks, have snacks, and chug water, but we continued little by little.

Halfway into our hike, we emerged on a teahouse. The Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse has been operational (in season of course) since 1927. Fully functioning over propane stoves, they offer warm beverages, soups, cakes, and the best tea biscuits and strawberry jam. They recycle supplies and the staff members hike to work and spend three nights at a time on the mountain. We learned that supplies are either flown in by helicopter at the beginning of the season or carried by staff as they hike up for their shift.

Talk about work ethic and commitment. No running water, they have to use imported gallons of water and there are no flushing toilets. A pit toilet with minimal privacy is all you have. You’re in creation, taking full advantage of the pure scenery around you. Modern amenities fall by the wayside when you are so overwhelmed by the massive amount of beauty around you. 360-degree views of mountains. All here reminding us of the great flood thousands of years ago.

Serving as a reminder that our God is able. He is strong and mighty. Capable of creating ultimate perfection. Gentle enough to hold us close as we navigate a life that isn’t always easy. Sometimes the road is hard. Sometimes we get stuck in the mud. Sometimes we feel so tired and out of breath that we feel like we cannot continue.

May we be reminded to seek time in the solitude of creation. To never stop being amazed at the wonders all around us. Serving as a promise of God’s faithfulness even amidst a world inundated with sin and brokenness. May we appreciate the peacefulness that comes with unplugging. If there’s breath in your lungs, you have a reason to praise.

Genesis 9:11-13, 16-17

“I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”