As a post-added precurser to the story, the picture was taken in the morning close to where my friend was photographing the storm that same night. The spot where this photograph was taken is similar in structure to the opposite canyon wall.
Unrelated, but interesting, if you look about halfway down there is a cliff dwelling. You may have to enlarge it to see it.
Riding through Canyon DeChelle on a huge high wheeled open air bus, I had a strange premonition that a friend would fall on the canyon edge. The premonition was dark and disturbing. I shook myself apart from the constant jostling of the vehicle and said “It doesn’t have to be that way.” It may have been a plea or a defiant statement. I’m not really sure. Then in silence, respecting the others around me, I prayed, pleading for my friends protection.
On the trip from Albuquerque to Laguna I’d had a similar but unspecific premonition. This friend is an up and coming photographer who has finally broken into the professional world after years of work and poverty. He is a kind quiet man of faith and vision.
The moment passed; the bus jostled on. I put the incident out of my mind.
We laughed and screamed and were in awe as we had been for hours. We ran into this friend later at a canyon ruin. He and another member of our artists group had hiked down from the top to do some photography. My heart was overjoyed to see him well and busy, though I knew he still had to hike out. Two members of our group, one his daughter, left the tour to join them on the hike up. I felt good about that and thought no more of my premonition.
We returned to the Lodge, laughing, reminiscing and cold. A hot supper mellowed us all and after checking our e-mail, etc. in the lobby, I was headed to my room. The other friend of the two ran up to me and ask where the men were. Steven had fallen and they needed to get him to a hospital quick. My blood ran cold; my heart raced and shut off my throat. I ran to get the guys who had the van key. After taking care of a couple other things, I made my way back to their room where I saw my friend covered in blood sitting on my husband’s bed. He didn’t fall from the cliff, but on the edge he had stepped into a hole and fell backwards hurting his neck and busting his head open. He has a back injury which ended his former carreer. I was both relieved and concerned. We gave them one of our cell phones and sent 4 of them off. With him was the group leader, a nurse and his daughter.
The rest of us waited nervously for some word. We learned he had 11 staples and no broken bones but some concerns over balance and speech required a ct scan. We waited again. As a group, as individuals, we had many fears and questions.
Together we prayed for our friend; openly we pleaded for his health. I prayed for answers secretly. Had I neglected to warn him 2 times? Was that only for me? I had shared the premonition with my husband and told him about begging God to alter it. Had God done that for me? I was wired with insecurity and questions. Why me? Why Steven? My husband seemed very shaken also, maybe by my premonition, maybe just by our friend’s injury. Finally, we learned that he had a small tear in his inner ear which would heal itself in time. He was given pain medication and would be coming back to the lodge. He could go on, but was to take it easy for a couple of days. Though relieved, we all felt a sense of urgency about our need to watch out for each other and to consider the group. He had been alone in a storm on a cliff in the dark. Our leader was adamant that no one was to go off alone. Our friend had put himself and the group at risk. It was a stern, but needed admonition. Steven took it well. The incident was over but it left me with many inner questions. Earlier that night, I’d read an email sent to an intercessors group I participate in. It simply stated “If the people of God do not speak what they know, who will?”
The picture was taken from the rim of Canyon DeChelly Sunday Oct. 9, just before my camera died.
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