With Nowhere to Go

I needed a break from life on a recent morning and despite what I needed to DO, I decided what I NEEDED was more important…a rarity these days. I justified it to myself too (not that it was necessary) by needing to ensure the “new to me” vehicle I recently purchased must be driven more than the daily 10-mile round-trip commute to work, to ensure I make it to a vacation destination in 2 weeks. That destination is an hour away from home, in the mountains. Not a good justification but I used it nonetheless. 

Off I headed with the dog in tow, with nowhere to go. I decided on a nearby county that I have yet to explore. No GPS. No maps. Just my intuition and decent sense of direction. I trust in it since I rarely use a map when I hike and have never gotten lost. I exited the highway onto the main street of the town I wanted to see and drove through circling a time or two; I knew I wanted to end up in the foothills of the mountain range within that county so simply drove and followed signs to unknown places. I finally found the river I wanted to follow and as I traversed a residential street and came to its end, the sight before me was something to behold. (See image above.) 

The Appalachian Trail crosses the river at this spot and runs up the hillsides to either side, which I made note of because there is a beautiful vantage point up the trail that I’d love to find one day to photograph the gorge and mountains. I drove up the hillside along a winding single-lane road that dead-ended at someone’s property. No sooner did I turn around when a very fast dog came from the dwelling, barrelling after the vehicle. My dog was throwing a fit in the backseat and the other one was making me nervous due to how well it kept up with me. I presume we left its territory because it finally stopped. My heart was racing nearly as fast as it was chasing after us. 

It was time to head home so that I could accomplish some things on my to-do list. Be responsible. Blah, blah, blah. Yeah, that is about how I feel lately. The mundane is getting to me; I don’t have enough energy or hours in the day to do things that I know The LORD has set before me. It is not for lack of trying, it is a lack of the former. It is not a complaint simply the truth and things need to change. I am so blessed and grateful that I get paid time off from my job. The intention during the forthcoming vacation is to relax, regroup, and allow the Spirit to move in the areas I have no time for from my normal day-to-day. I will not have a computer anywhere near me. Hurray! 

As I sat here writing it hit me: This would have been my maternal grandmother’s 88th birthday, and that they (she and Grandpa) have been gone for a little over a decade now. Perhaps that stirring in my consciousness was another reason why I felt a bit restless. My heart did a little dip because I miss them greatly. I miss their love, hanging out with them for hours or days on end. They were my favorite people and life without them has been lonely…but I digress. I do hope that I have done things in life that they would be proud of. 

Despite this restless spirit flitting about within me, the pop of emotion today, and a bum foot – life is good. I live in a deep well of peace and it is an amazing place in which to reside. The level of healing that The Father has both worked silently within me and walked me through, and I am cognizant of, is also a huge blessing and place of gratitude I sit in daily.