Not much else is as beautiful as Alaska.

Yes, I wanted to go to Ireland, but that was an impossibility because of COVID-related restrictions. My husband and I decided to stay in the States on our recent getaway — a celebratory trip after I finished my Ph.D.

I stepped on the ferry that runs from Ketchikan, Alaska’s airport to the seaside town by the same name. The beauty of Ketchikan cannot be overstated. The water was so blue. Then the green mountains in the background, along with a few bare mountains with persistent dollops of snow, caught my eye. I closed my eyes and felt the wind and sun on my face. Was I really here? 

The following day, my husband and I participated in a zipline excursion. I am terrified of heights, but I did it anyway. After all, it was my idea, my husband reminded me. Along the way, I couldn’t help but marvel at the scenery — ziplining through the forest, then over the water and back into the forest. 

The next two days were spent on a boat fishing. I caught a nice-sized halibut, a few salmon and several rockfish. I love fishing and I savored my time on the water. I thought about the scenery — do locals appreciate the beauty that they see everyday on their way to work?

Worship the Lord your God and Serve Him Only

I am reminded of Isaiah 55:12: “For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” I certainly had a joyful and peaceful vacation in Ketchikan.

It’s easy, in such a stunning setting, to get caught up in the beauty and not in worship of its Creator. But Romans 1:25 discusses the importance of worshiping the Creator, not the creation. And during Jesus’ time being tested by Satan, he said, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'” (Luke 4:8).  It’s perfectly okay to enjoy the beauty that God has blessed us with. But our worship should be directed toward the Creator of beauty and not beauty itself. 

Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.