After I left Atlanta last week, I stayed a couple nights in the Smoky Mountains. The campground in Elkmont, Tennessee was beautiful. A great place to escape the distractions of this world. Bethany came with me for the first night and experienced her first night of real camping in the woods. Well, as real as I thought she could handle for her first experience. There were flushing toilets and amenities that included hot cups of fresh brewed lattes in the morning. Some comforts are just too hard to walk away from. I told her the next experience would include middle-of-nowhere, make-your-own-site, poop-in-the-dirt kind of camping. I'm not sure she was totally excited for that just yet.
Bethany headed back for reality around noon the next day. I spent the day soaking up the Lord's beauty meditating in the river, tending to my fire, and taking selfies. Truthfully, I got bored by myself. That was the first time I had ever camped by myself in the woods. I have been camping more times than I can count in my life, but that was to first solo trip. It was interesting to step outside of myself and see how I would handle the solitude. That was a small taste of what this adventure can potentially look like. No comforts, no friends, no internet. Just me, God, and nature. I can do that, right? A question I did ponder seriously as the sun began to set and the dense, humid fog set in.
So, I did what I do and busted out my camera to take some long exposure, ghostly shots. It was cool to see how the fog affected the light painting, giving the photos an ominous, eerie effect. I burned through the last of the wood and settled in the tent for my last night in the Smokys. Thank the Lord for rain flies. As I laid there I stared up through my mesh-top tent adjusting to the darkness. Flashes of lightning lit up the trees around me and I knew it was coming. The droplets broke up through the mesh speckling my face. That was my last warning. I got up and closed off the outside world with the fly and crawled back into my now secluded nylon shelter. It came. The rain fell through the trees and danced on my tent all night. Some numbers were soft and sweet, like a gentle ballet. Others were brutal, forceful expressions of song. Sleep was fleeting. I woke up several times to check the integrity of my never-been-used tent and found it to be worthy. I stayed dry. Well, except for the massive amounts of humidity no human can escape.
The next morning was a wet one for sure. It continued to drizzle as I packed up my campsite and bid farewell to the foggy, damp, soggy Smokys. Kentucky awaits.
I arrived at my Aunt Sandi's house in Flatwoods, KY in the early evening one week ago. I can't believe a week has already passed since I was greeted by southern comfort and hospitality. Southern comfort, the environment, not the whisky. C'mon now. My stay here has been productive and restful. Left to my own devises, I have been able to edit, research, and eat as much as possible. Let's just say Sandi's cooking is one to be rivaled. I'm not sure I have ever had the opportunity to eat so well on such a consistent basis. I think I'm even picking up on the southern drawl around here. My favorite enjoyment so far has been to sit and listen to the conversations between aunts, cousins, and grandkids. The smaller they are the more I like to hear them talk. Long vowels, folky sayings, and southern points of view. I love it.
I've enjoyed my time in Kentucky almost too much. Although I'm not in a hurry to leave, I know Sandi would like me to stay forever, it's time to start seeking my next place of exploration and adventure. I still haven't figured it out and there's been no sky opening, white light revelation either. I'm open to suggestions at this point. Camping, a generous home, or my car will be my only options for sleeping. As you can imagine money is tight and it makes no sense to spend on expensive hotels. The conveniences of this life is not what this adventure is about. It's when we are uncomfortable that we can truly find out who we are and what God has created us to be. It's where our strengths will shine and our fears conquered. It's time to be uncomfortable.
God bless you!!
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4