(No pics yet-hope to have some soon)
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:7-8 (NIV)
Is anyone counting all the adventurous things I have been doing on this vacation that is far from a vacation? I have been getting very little rest, but boy do I have stories to tell when I get home. And some battle scars, too. In case you are just tuning in, in five days I have been whitewater kayaking in class 4 rapids, hiked to the top of a mountain, and zip lined ten times, rappelled twice and walked two swinging bridges. Today, I added, jump off a waterfall. From a seven foot drop. Into freezing cold water. Oh, yeah, the acrophobic mid life woman is at it again. Peer pressure is a deadly thing. Vicki and two of her friends, Lib and Syd, invited us to go swimming at Skinny Dip Falls (mile marker 417 on the Blue Ridge Parkway). Only a local would know about this swimming hole as the Looking Glass Rock overlook gives no indication of such a beautiful falls across the road and only a short hike away. We walked through a beautiful forest and could hear the rushing water calling us as we followed the trail From a wooden bridge, we viewed the falls and also the rock lined pool. Youngest son was the first one there and before most of us could even cross the bridge, he had leapt from a tall rock that some local women told him was the jumping place. He led the way as one by one the rest of us approached the rock, then darted back, holding our hands over our eyes as the water looked so far away. Vicki was the first to give in plunging into the water so cold it took your breath away, then scrambling back onto the rocks to egg the rest of us on. Husband went next, then, two little boys who made us all ashamed of our hesitation. M. wanted to go so bad, but was afraid even though I reminded her of all the heights she traversed without fear yesterday. I claimed having custody of the camera as my excuse for not going, but finally, was lured back onto the rock for my turn. The longer I stood on the edge looking down into the water, the harder it was to leave the solid footing. I do not know what finally came over me that allowed me to jump. Pride, courage, the lure of the water? I finally made myself let go and jump out away from the rock and sunk over my head into water so cold I came up from its depths as if I could walk on its surface I was in such a hurry to get to shore. Finally, M., then, Sid and Lib jumped as well. I could have stayed on the rocks soaking up the sun and cool water all day, but a rainstorm drove us back to our cars. Our three swimming partners returned to Asheville while we drove some more on the parkway to have a picnic and take pictures of the highest point. Then, we went to Looking Glass Falls. Despite the continued rain, I was determined to swim at those massive falls. When we were there last year, we did not have swim suits with us and were travelling on the motorcycle. This year, I had no excuse. The power of the falls creates a wind and mist that soaks you without even going in the water, but I swam out as far as I dared without being beaten by the falling waters to get my picture made and say, “I did it.” What is it that you dream of doing but fear keeps you from completing? Has God called you to do something, but you are afraid to follow Him in obedience? Like the power of the rushing water, God will give you the strength and courage to accomplish His plan for you. Just jump.
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