National Parks - God’s Good Creation

About six miles from our place, the closest Blue Ridge Parkway point of interest is Fox Hunters Paradise. You can see why (minus the childish graffiti). Susan’s sister has some memorable moments with her at this spot. Me too.

Just below this vantage point your first landing zone, assuming a really good running start, is the Low Gap Community. Should you get that far they’ll be sure to patch you up and send you on your way. They’re nice folks.

Of course you could skip the thrill and the neighborly patchwork if you follow the road down into the valley. Your call.

A little further out Highway 89 on the left, you’ll find Mount Airy. That would be “Mayberry” to Andy Griffith fans. On the horizon, Hanging Rock State Park (center left) and then a Barney Fife favorite, Mount Pilot (center right). In this photo you can barely make out the Pilot Knob. I’ll give you a closer look one day.

The Far Horizon – Hanging Rock – Pilot Mountain

At this altitude, a few weeks ago, Spring had just begun….

Some days you’ll spot a nuthatch upside down on the trunk of a white oak searching the scabby bark for morsels. But nuthatch or no, every day is feast day at Fox Hunter’s Paradise for all God’s creatures, great and small.

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We call it “our spot.” On a clear day, to Susan’s far right (off camera), you can just make out Grandfather Mountain where the ole guy still sleeps. And to her far left (also off camera) rising from the ashes of Big Tobacco the Winston-Salem skyline.

From Salem to Grandpappy, as the crow flies, about 100 miles. And all of it, every square mile of it, right there in front of us. At our spot.

Sitting there you could almost imagine omniscience. I mean, of course, if you had the best possible vantage point. And perfect vision. Panoramic vision to widen the frame. Telescopic vision to cover the distance. Microscopic vision to get really close. But more, a vision that penetrates the surface, a vision that uncovers the hidden. That detects the subtlest fold of the heart. With vision like that, from a place like that, you could see and know it all.

We spent hours at our spot. Hours full of small talk. Big talk. And re-creative silence. Munching on crackers and cheese. Salami and prosciutto. Chocolate. Lots of chocolate. Laughing. Loving. Thinking. Contemplating the meal set before us, the view set before us, the hours and days to come, hoping to see, hoping to know. Convinced we are known. And given our limited vision, by Faith willing to embrace the mystery. Grateful for the beauty we could see.

All the while sipping a nice Pinot Noir or easing back a water bottle of “Magic Elixir” both carefully crafted to make the heart glad. And they did!

Stretching below us the Yadkin Valley boasts of 38 wineries. We visited many of them. But none of them with a view like this. Up high like this. As elevating as this. We loved our spot. Our place in the world.

A day with my best friend. Waiting to see and know…

 Psalm 33:13-22
The LORD looks down from heaven; 
     He sees all humankind.
From where he sits enthroned he watches
     all the inhabitants of the earth--
He who fashions the hearts of them all,
     and observes all their deeds....
Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
     on those who hope in his steadfast love,
to deliver their soul from death,
     and to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the LORD;
     He is our help and shield.
Our heart is glad in him,
     because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
     even as we hope in you.  (NRSV)

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Tag: National Parks

Fox Hunters Paradise

Waiting To See & Know