Up on the mountain.....

     Every year my oldest son takes his summer pilgrimage to camp Living Waters.  Yes, this is a spiritual journey, a time dedicated to seeking the LORD while socializing with young people his age.  He absolutely loves it and every year the LORD deposits something into his heart for his journey.  This year I decided to go along... my second journey to the mountain, one I said I would never take again.
     Have you ever had a bad year, really bad year where everything you did seem to take a turn for the worse or the experience left a bad taste in your mouth so to speak.  Well, that was 2012 for me.  Camp that year for me was, well, yuck.  It really had nothing to do with camp itself or the people I met, just the place I found myself in.  So this year when I felt a need to return I was a little reluctant and found myself not committing until the last minute.
     As the time approached I found myself getting excited and determining to make this year a good year, trusting God was with me, and all would turn out great.  As in anytime you truly trust GOD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, HE WILL keep your paths straight.. and He did not disappoint.

Living Waters, Balsam Grove NC

    I know that God put in me a love for the arts, especially photography.  A professional, I am not, but I LOVE to take pictures and I never leave on a journey without my camera, or TWO!  So there will pictures throughout of my journey.  For those looking for a great place to take a vacation, try Brevard in Transylvania County.. home of waterfalls galore and if you get on the Blue Ridge Parkway there is tons of overlooks to stop and see magnificent views of this great land God created.  And talk to people along the way.  You will meet the nicest people, full of great stories of where they have been and can point you in the direction of neat spots you might not find on a tourist map.

Somewhere on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Graveyard Fields, Blue Ridge Parkway NC

     A friend once told me there was nothing like going up on that old mountain...and you know, she was right.  I can't quite explain it but there is a peace there.  It might be in that there is little distraction of worldly things, like TV... and you don't have continuous access to internet, so you can check your messages, but not constantly like at home.  You really do have quiet time, really quiet if you want.  You actually can hear the water flowing, the birds singing, animals scurrying about and you might even see a snake or two, but I was not particularly looking for that! 

Living Waters, Balsam Grove NC

     At the River house where I was staying I kept passing a bush outside the door.  It looked like a Rose of Sharon and every time I passed it it would catch my attention.  One evening when I was walking down the hill I saw it in the distance.  It was overcast but there was a break in the clouds and the light was hitting this bush.  Of course I had my camera.. 

     As I took pictures I kept hearing this old song about dew on the roses:

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on roses
And the voice I hear falling
On my ear the son of God discloses

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

Songwriters
C. Austin Miles

     I think this song kind of sums up what it is like up there on that mountain.. It is a place of tarrying with the LORD, of hearing his voice, of walking and talking with Him.  A place of refreshing and renewal you need for the journey.  We can't all stay on the mountain 24/7 but we can savor the time we do get a long the way to tarry with the LORD and we can find time in our busy days to walk and talk with him. 

     The Sunday we were to leave I woke up early and I ventured out on the balcony one more time to listen to the river flow and I found myself crying, not really wanting to return home and depart from this "safe" place... my heart was so heavy that morning and then I realized what day it was, July 26, 2015, the fourth anniversary of my Father's death.  All I could hear that morning was the song of the dew on the roses.. and I knew my Heavenly Father was walking with me that morning and bringing comfort to me.  

      I got so much more deposited into my heart in my time up on the mountain. God surrounded me with loving friends, amazing ladies demonstrating the love of Christ and sound biblical teaching to help guide me.  Some great time of laughter and memories I will forever cherish of climbing to see waterfalls with some very adventurous ladies that made me feel young again and helped me laugh and push thru the pain.  Who allowed me to be who I am. 

Trees fascinate me :)

The Trail to Skinny Dip Falls off Blue Ridge Parkway

Skinny Dip Falls

Skinny Dip Falls

Skinny Dip Falls

Off Blue Ridge Parkway

Off the Blue Ridge Parkway

Lower Falls at Graveyard Fields.  

     We don't always know what is going to happen when we set off on a journey. Glad I took this one. 

Thanks for reading! 

Becky J.