July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Valuable lessons were learned on vacation
As I See It
By Diana Dolecki-
Note to self: never decline an offer of sunscreen from your sister-in-law
Second note to self: practice stair climbing for several hours a day prior to visiting said sister-in-law
We went on a much needed vacation last week. It was absolutely wonderful.
First we went down to Callaway Gardens to see how beautiful a man-made garden can be. The rhododendrons were finished blooming and most of the summer blossoming plants had yet to begin their display but the entire place was stunning.
From there we went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee; arguably the most touristy place on the planet. The highlight of our time there was a trek on one of the trails.
It was a relatively short trail, well within our capabilities yet I was breathing pretty hard by the time we were halfway up to our destination.
I stopped several times to take pictures of mushrooms that looked like little Christmas trees, flowers that looked and felt like baby bottle brushes and lots of sunshiny mountain laurel.
On the way back down the trail I was ahead of my husband so I stopped to wait for him. As I stood there I closed my eyes. I felt as if I was in the midst of all that is holy.
All the tension drained from my soul and was replaced by perfect peace. The sounds of the trees rustling, the brook babbling and the birds carrying on their musical conversations sounded like the voice of God whispering to me. It was exactly what I had been seeking. I fully understood that line in the Twenty-third Psalm, "He restoreth my soul..."
I wondered why I had never felt that close to God in church. The answer is that churches are made by men. The rituals were created by men. The entire experience of religion is an interpretation by people of the way things should be. There in the woods it was just me and God; no rituals, no sermons, only the hymns sung by nature.
By the time my husband caught up with me I was refreshed. He told me that he passed someone who said there was a bear near the parking lot at the end of the trail. I was glad we weren't there yet.
The next day we headed for his sister's house. She and her husband offered us a ride on their boat. My calves were aching from the day before and I looked at the 3,000 stair steps down to the lake and cringed.
When we got down there the boat wouldn't start. So we climbed all the way back up. The next day it was back down 3,000 steps and this time the boat started.
We had a wonderful ride on the lake. My brother-in-law is an excellent pilot. My sister-in-law offered sunscreen but, like fools, we declined, much to our regret.
They said there were only 70 steps back up to their house but I still say it felt like at least 3,000. It took several days before I could walk without aching.
It was worth it. We had an entire week of good food, soul-restoring scenery and good family time. Now we are ready to tackle all the summer projects with renewed energy and resolve. Let the weeding begin![[In-content Ad]]
Second note to self: practice stair climbing for several hours a day prior to visiting said sister-in-law
We went on a much needed vacation last week. It was absolutely wonderful.
First we went down to Callaway Gardens to see how beautiful a man-made garden can be. The rhododendrons were finished blooming and most of the summer blossoming plants had yet to begin their display but the entire place was stunning.
From there we went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee; arguably the most touristy place on the planet. The highlight of our time there was a trek on one of the trails.
It was a relatively short trail, well within our capabilities yet I was breathing pretty hard by the time we were halfway up to our destination.
I stopped several times to take pictures of mushrooms that looked like little Christmas trees, flowers that looked and felt like baby bottle brushes and lots of sunshiny mountain laurel.
On the way back down the trail I was ahead of my husband so I stopped to wait for him. As I stood there I closed my eyes. I felt as if I was in the midst of all that is holy.
All the tension drained from my soul and was replaced by perfect peace. The sounds of the trees rustling, the brook babbling and the birds carrying on their musical conversations sounded like the voice of God whispering to me. It was exactly what I had been seeking. I fully understood that line in the Twenty-third Psalm, "He restoreth my soul..."
I wondered why I had never felt that close to God in church. The answer is that churches are made by men. The rituals were created by men. The entire experience of religion is an interpretation by people of the way things should be. There in the woods it was just me and God; no rituals, no sermons, only the hymns sung by nature.
By the time my husband caught up with me I was refreshed. He told me that he passed someone who said there was a bear near the parking lot at the end of the trail. I was glad we weren't there yet.
The next day we headed for his sister's house. She and her husband offered us a ride on their boat. My calves were aching from the day before and I looked at the 3,000 stair steps down to the lake and cringed.
When we got down there the boat wouldn't start. So we climbed all the way back up. The next day it was back down 3,000 steps and this time the boat started.
We had a wonderful ride on the lake. My brother-in-law is an excellent pilot. My sister-in-law offered sunscreen but, like fools, we declined, much to our regret.
They said there were only 70 steps back up to their house but I still say it felt like at least 3,000. It took several days before I could walk without aching.
It was worth it. We had an entire week of good food, soul-restoring scenery and good family time. Now we are ready to tackle all the summer projects with renewed energy and resolve. Let the weeding begin![[In-content Ad]]
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD