When we were in Cappadocia, Turkey, we were awestruck at the landscape. It was like we were on another planet! Our guide explained the geology of the unusual rock formations which included the wearing down from water. Water? We couldn’t see any water. We also went inside an elaborate cave system created by Christians who were evading persecution. It was amazing that there was a city of 5000 people hidden from sight.

One of the daily tourist events there is a sunrise balloon launch with 120 balloons, each holding about 10-15 people. On the ground, hundreds of spectators find photo-op viewing sites perfect for Instagram posts. We couldn’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a famous Cappadocian balloon ride.

All I could do was cry.

It was spectacular. We were flying in suspended silence (between bursts of fire to keep us aloft) with a community of balloons. The effect was stunning. We also saw the rock formations from above, and—lo and behold—I could see where riverbeds had been! The water our guide had referred to was no longer there, but I could see where it had been.

When my breath is taken away by God’s creation I am reminded of God’s bigness, creativity, and awesomeness. When I consider amazing human feats—like the cave system or the ability to fly in a balloon—I am reminded of God’s loving invitation to act on our God-image and co-create with God. Wow. What a privilege. And a responsibility. We are all creating. We get to make a difference in God’s world. What are you co-creating today?