Just One Heartbeat From Trouble

Rev 21:5 - "Behold! I make all things new!

The Foster Falls TVA Small Wild Area is a pocket wilderness with excceedingly rugged terrain. The trail begins with a stern warning sign followed by a steep descent into a 200 ft deep gorge that holds a fast-flowing mountain stream and huge centuries-old hemlocks. Once you drop into the gorge you are on your own; there is no cell phone service. My plan was to enjoy my lunch in the bottom of the scenic gorge. But on the way down I failed to notice the double-blaze on a fallen tree. (A double blaze indicates that the trail makes a sharp turn.) Before long I found myself at the end of a narrow goat trail on the side of a cliff, with no way to go forward. But when I tried to retrace my steps, I hit another dead end. "What should I do now?" When you are lost, the more you wander the worse it can get. And if you fall off the side of a cliff in a wilderness area, the buzzards will find you long before the park rangers will. There were a few more anxious moments before I found the main trail again. One of my children once observed, "An area without natural hazards is an area not worth hiking."

Life is so like that! We plan ahead, take precautions, and strive for security. But in this world trouble is always just one heartbeat away! It can hit at any moment without warning. A car accident.... a doctor's diagnosis.... a phone call.... a spouse leaves.... Your life is forever changed and there is nothing you can do about it. That is one reason why Rev 21:5 is one of my absolute favorite verses. I am soooo ready for God to remake the world!