Waiting. Waiting. Patiently, ever so patiently, it waited across the centuries, always on guard. The hoodoo, topped by its capstone, stands atop mesa, keeping watch below and above. Patiently. Ever so patiently.

And on days like today, when the storms roll in, it stands as a silent sentinel, watching as the clouds gather and thicken with the threat of severe weather. Not flinching, never moving, it stands there, on guard. Watching. And waiting. Patiently.

This particular sentinel is a lone hoodoo in Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. Standing high and somewhat apart from its fellows, it reminded me of a sentinel as a storm began to gather. Like so many hoodoos, it has a capstone on it, a product of the centuries of erosion from wind and water. Who knows what events this hoodoo has seen, but given how long they take to form, it has certainly seen its share of happenings. The entire area is full of incredible formations--but this lonely one stood out amongst them.

Waiting. Watching. Patiently.