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Not very long ago I wrote a column wherein I listed places I’ve been here in the U.S. and in Europe.

I hope it wasn’t looked upon by some as the boasting of a “journey proud” person. My travels in Europe were made feasible because I was in the employ of Uncle Sam, and during my 29 months there I availed myself of every opportunity to travel, taking advantage of leave time a soldier earns.

Here in this country a portion of my travels had to do with attending eleven Barbershop Harmony Society annual conventions/contests, held each year in a different city. I went as a spectator, and not as a competitor, as the several phases of qualifying competition for quartets and choruses entails a rigorous winnowing out process. Enough about that.

All I have written thus far was done as a lead up to my main point, which I’ll attempt to now convey to you.

For almost my entire life I have been fascinated by, amazed by, emotionally touched by nature. That is, by how simply looking, for example, at mountains, seems to go to the core of my being. Sounds corny, perhaps, but that’s how it is.

The mountains in western North Carolina, for example, exemplify peace to me. That’s right. Just being there, absorbing it visually. What better way to describe it than peace. It gives me a true peace. Plus there are the majestic, muscular mountains out west. Breath-taking. To see is to believe.

Then there are our country’s two oceans. The mighty Atlantic, and the incomparable encompassing Pacific. The immensity, the far and wide reach of these great oceans, are the two dominating physical features of planet Earth. The mind can “scarce take it all in.”

There is one place in our land that is truly nonpareil. Even that word is inadequate. I have been there twice, and it evoked the same feelings in me both times.

That place? The Grand Canyon. When standing just at the rim, and looking out as far as your eyes can possibly take you, is a difficult to explain wonder. Impossibly so.

Not wishing to sound maudlin, or one using contrived religiosity, seeing the Grand Canyon lets me know that, truly, there is a higher power, a divinity if you will, above and beyond man’s ability to fully comprehend.

How could I, can I, believe otherwise?

Peace.