Serenity Found

Today I did some spring cleaning all morning then rode the Burg all afternoon.  I headed for Davidson River, one of my favorite places on God's good earth, then passed it by to go to Cedar Mountain, then Pretty Place (aka Symmes Chapel).  It sits on top of the mountain overlooking South Carolina.  I've been there several times and will go back many more.

It is a sacred spot.  And the presence of God does fill my soul every time I go there. 

Lots of people get married here and it's easy to see why.  The beauty is breath taking.

On the beam, "I will lift up mine eyes unto these hills."

I sat on a rock near the chapel, gazing over the valley, and recited the Serenity Prayer several times.

"God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can
And wisdom to know the difference,
Living one day at a time
Enjoying one moment at a time
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking this world as it is, not as I would have it
Trusting that you will make all things right, if I surrender to your will
So I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with you in the next.
Amen" 

Oh yeah.  I left pretty place to ride up Davidson River for a bit.  As always, it was gorgeous.  Had to stop and listen to the water for a while to see if it had anything to tell me.  "All is well in the real world" came through.  As did "Life is like the river-it flows on and on" from Lao Tsu. 

I love to be near water.  And of all the kinds to be around - oceans, gulfs, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and creeks - I love fast moving rivers the most.  They excite, inspire, enliven, and lift me up.  At Briarpatch Lane near Boone, the New River was slow above Laxon Creek, which ran in front of the house, and fast below it.  I recently learned from Zoe that the last big rain undid much of the stream bank mitigation work that was done many years ago, and that is sad.  The banks are eroding again.  And the big willow tree is gone.  Again.

I'm not real sure why it took me so long to settle in here.  Put the awning up, the ground carpet down, the Burg in place.  Maybe it was being away for a few days in Raleigh, or the cool weather, or the online shopping for a bigger truck and bigger trailer, since I've decided to continue living this way for a while.  Or maybe because I'm mooning for my lover and long to be with her.  Two months from today I'll be in Virginia with Barbara and family, and that will be more than fine!  I hope to have a new truck by then, pulling my current trailer, then find a  5th wheel trailer when I come back here mid-summer.  I've been very concerned about the Silverado pulling HOWHEE (my current home on wheels) in the mountains out west, and a new-used truck would go far to alleviate that. 

The adventure continues!  Thanks for stopping by.