Experiencing Eden

 

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1

... we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

II Peter 3:13

You know the feeling that you just need to get out and away, just forget about everything and have a day of refreshing? Yeah, we all know that feeling. We decided to take a day trip just to get away. My husband and I  rambled around buying fall flowers and discovering a little new territory but after lunch, we ended up heading toward Cataloochee. 

We spent about thirty minutes winding back through the mountains on a dirt road finally topping out the ridge and making that final left turn. The road led us to scenic vistas, trails, old barns, and a settlement with a church, a school, and an old house. The road to the house was washed out so it was only open to foot traffic. We walked maybe a quarter of a mile along the road passing grassy pastures and signs to old graveyards before we came to a huge barn and a footbridge on the left across the creek to an early 20th Century house. An older lady sat on the bridge picking grasses and platting a crown like we used to do as kids. Her husband was walking back from the house. We spoke as we passed and ambled on through the yard and the house, taking pictures of butterflies on wildflowers and listening to goldfinches twitter about the thistle seeds. 

Now, the gentleman sat on the bridge and pointed with a stick, talking with his wife about the birds. "I've never seen a yellow bird like that." There was also a cedar waxwing, a bird I'd rarely seen, joining the goldfinches in the flowers draping over the water. We enjoyed a neighborly talk. I just wanted to cook a pone of cornbread and get some cold buttermilk from the spring house for our supper, but that wasn't to be in this 21st century.

The walk back to the truck was hot but pleasant. As we passed a field near the creek, I saw her. "Bear!" That's not my usual reaction to a bear but the unexpected sighting had startled me and apparently, I startled her too. She raised up on her hind legs and looked in our direction while I fumbled with my camera. She must have decided she and her cub might need to head toward the creek.

Now, in the road near the creek stood a big bull elk. The trail signs say to stay fifty yards away. Well now what, with a mama bear to our left and a bull elk to our right? He noticed we needed to pass so he kindly wandered off into the woods out of our path. 

When I got back to the truck I noticed a type of euphoria. Actually, I had been experiencing it most of the afternoon. There was joy and peace there on the mountain. There was excitement in the birds and bears and elk. Maybe it was because I'm part of the older folks my thoughts drifted to the future when God places me in the new heavens and new earth, a re-creation of the Garden of Eden. I feel I got to experience just a little bit of that garden this week. The Lord surely knew I needed it on a hot summer afternoon. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for preserving just a tiny bit of your Garden of Eden for us to experience. It was an amazing walk to see the animals, respecting each other's territory, and without fear for either of us. Thank you for your promise that one day You will once again restore a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness will prevail, a place to enjoy others, the plants, and the animals. I wonder if in the cool of the day You will walk among us so we can experience that fellowship with You, our Creator as Adam and Eve once did. I'm certainly looking forward to that day but until then I am thankful for a quiet walk in the forest. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

Do you have a favorite quiet spot?

Our lives are filled with hurry and noise. It tends to busy our lives and distract our minds. 

This week take a few minutes to walk in the quiet of a park or forest. Sit beside a stream and listen. Watch the insects, birds, and animals. 

Maybe you'll want to take along a camera or a sketch pad or paper to write a short poem or story. 

Maybe you'll just want to whisper a prayer of thanks that this is not the end but a moment to take a glimpse into our future.