It had been nearly thirty-six hours since the first boarding call before I finally saw it for the first time.

South Africa.

Even after four flights spanning three continents, the adrenaline was still pumping something fierce in the face of fatigue.  I leaned in close to the cold airplane window, eager to catch a glimpse of my new home.

And my mouth dropped open at the beauty.  

The pilot announced that we had some time to kill before we’d be cleared for landing, so he’d decided to give us an aerial tour of the Cape Peninsula.

I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.

Rolling coastlines in greens and blues, sandy beaches dotted with boulders jutting out into the surf.  Rocky hills and mountains, forests interspersed with houses placed strategically, and winding roads small like a play set.

Over the course of the next ten years, I would land in Cape Town more than a handful of times, and never — never— was I treated to such a breathtaking tour as I was on that first sighting.

It was as if the Lord was smiling down on me, whispering over the hum of the jetliner’s engine, “Look.  Look where I’ve brought you.  Look what I’ve made for you to enjoy.  Just look.”

And I was slackjawed by the sheer glory of it all. 

 ***

[Tweet “”The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” ~ Psalm 19:1″]

This is Day 2 of the series, 31 Days of Life in South Africa — a series in which every blog post is written in just five minutes.

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