we hiked the Grand Canyon many years ago, from the top to the bottom and then back up the next day, except that it was in the heat of the summer instead of the cold of winter. It was 114 degrees at the bottom of the canyon. There was someone there I remember saying, "The harder the toil, the sweeter the rest." We hiked with our backpacks and water canteens 7 miles on the way down, and then 10 miles on a different trail back up the next morning. I had a red t-shirt on that looked like a tie-dye shirt when I emerged to the top the next day, with the white salt stains from my sweat. Considering that I was walking on a fairly recent injury to my left foot that was supposed to have rendered me permanently disabled, that was a great feeling of accomplishment when I emerged out of that canyon.

But of course, that was a small task compared to the challenge we have before us now. We must unite and overcome the nefarious demons before us now.