Our routine may have us, and we don't even know it. Recently I had the joy (thanks to some new and great friends) to get away from the familiar environment and spend the day with the ones I love up in the mountains beyond the Blue Ridge Parkway. The first thing that caught my attention was the sweet smell of cool air, almost like autumn, except fresher. Then I noticed the wonderful absence of the sounds from cars, humming lights, lawn mowers, and even the fans that try to keep everything cool (like this computer). It was replaced by a simple breeze with a background whisper of a trickling stream. The sights were as different as the sounds. I substituted the things that man makes (like billboards, four lane highways, and even backyard goldfish ponds) for clouds washing over 4,000 feet ridge tops and the shiny leaves and bursting blooms of wild rhododendron and mountain laurel. The things I touched were different too; the feel of prickly, but soft boughs of a growing Christmas tree 2 to 10 feet tall and the doorknob of a neighbor's cabin that was freely left unlocked for friends and family to enjoy. My thoughts were more about what species of trees we were discovering on our walk, and when could we find more time to return to this place than thoughts of the high price of gasoline or running over on our allotted cellphone minutes (which, by the way, will do you little good unless you walk to the top of the next hill). Yes, the pace is slower. It makes me wonder if God wanted it that way so that we might have a volume of time to spend with Him. He walked with Adam in the cool of the day. So, if you have a chance and know someone beyond the Parkway, take a day. It might serve your spirit as well as it did mine.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
A Day Away
Our routine may have us, and we don't even know it. Recently I had the joy (thanks to some new and great friends) to get away from the familiar environment and spend the day with the ones I love up in the mountains beyond the Blue Ridge Parkway. The first thing that caught my attention was the sweet smell of cool air, almost like autumn, except fresher. Then I noticed the wonderful absence of the sounds from cars, humming lights, lawn mowers, and even the fans that try to keep everything cool (like this computer). It was replaced by a simple breeze with a background whisper of a trickling stream. The sights were as different as the sounds. I substituted the things that man makes (like billboards, four lane highways, and even backyard goldfish ponds) for clouds washing over 4,000 feet ridge tops and the shiny leaves and bursting blooms of wild rhododendron and mountain laurel. The things I touched were different too; the feel of prickly, but soft boughs of a growing Christmas tree 2 to 10 feet tall and the doorknob of a neighbor's cabin that was freely left unlocked for friends and family to enjoy. My thoughts were more about what species of trees we were discovering on our walk, and when could we find more time to return to this place than thoughts of the high price of gasoline or running over on our allotted cellphone minutes (which, by the way, will do you little good unless you walk to the top of the next hill). Yes, the pace is slower. It makes me wonder if God wanted it that way so that we might have a volume of time to spend with Him. He walked with Adam in the cool of the day. So, if you have a chance and know someone beyond the Parkway, take a day. It might serve your spirit as well as it did mine.
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1 comment:
Wow! Been to that exact place and it is just as you described. I don't know that I could take it all the time, but for a get away it is wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
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