booming

Love is the big booming beat which covers up the noise of hate. 
--Margaret Cho (b.1968) American Comedian.

I love the sound of a waterfall in spring when the water roars with full force. This is Laurel Fork Falls outside of Hampton, TN, a 55-foot beauty and one of the most popular hikes in our region. Click here for directions and information. Listen to the roar in this short video:

Effort

The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.
--Author Unknown.

This past October, a new bridge was completed on the Appalachian Trail leading to Laurel Fork Falls from Dennis Cove Road. The new "Koonford Bridge" is in the same location as the older, narrow bridge in the Laurel Fork Gorge. Though considerably wider, I'm glad they kept the handrails on just one side, just like the older bridge. This wasn't just a replacement project -- in order to accommodate the new, wider bridge, volunteers had to first widen and raise the stone support piers. Here is a link to a series of videos showing the dedicated volunteers who made this happen. The new bridge is very impressive both in its scale and craftsmanship. Sixty-six feet in length, it took about two months to complete.

Some of you might remember that back in January of 1998 the central section of the old bridge was washed away in a flood and quickly replaced by a crew of volunteers.  That 'quick fix' held up really well for 16 years.

measuring health

When you have worn out your shoes, the strength of the shoe leather has passed into the fiber of your body. I measure your health by the number of shoes and hats and clothes you have worn out.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American writer and philosopher. 

Above: This section of the Appalachian Trail near Laurel Falls follows the old Laurel Fork Railway which operated from 1912 to 1927.

Servant of Love

Today I'm remembering and celebrating the life, the ministry and the music of Christian singer/songerwriter Rich Mullins, who died 15 years ago today.  I've gathered some of my favorite Rich Mullins quotes here. In thinking of his departed friend, author Brennan Manning said this...


There's a scene in Thornton Wilder's play "The Angel that Troubled the Waters" which to me really captures the essence of the life and the spirituality of Rich Mullins. The scene is a doctor comes to the pool everyday wanting to be healed of his melancholy and his gloom and his sadness. Finally the angel appears. The doctor, he's a medical doctor, goes to step into the water. The angel blocks his entrance and says, "No, step back, the healing is not for you." The doctor pleads, "But I've got to get into the water. I can't live this way." The angel says, "No, this moment is not for you." And he says, "But how can I live this way?"

The angel says to him, "Doctor, without your wounds where would your power be? It is your melancholy that makes your low voice tremble into the hearts of men and women. The very angels themselves cannot persuade the wretched and blundering children of this earth as can one human being broken on the wheels of living. In love's service, only wounded soldiers can serve."

And to me the theme of that story is the theme to Rich Mullins' life. All grace, all light, all truth, all power are communicated though the vulnerability, the brokenness, the utter honesty of men and women who have been shipwrecked, heartbroken, broken on the wheels of living. In love's service, only wounded soldiers can serve. And to me, the power of Rich Mullins life lay in the power of his brokenness, the power in his unblinking honesty, his deeply moving sincerity and God, I miss him. But to my dying day I will boast and with honor will say that Rich Mullins was my friend.
--Brennan Manning (1934-2013) priest, author, speaker.

rest your mind

Leisure is a form of silence, not noiselessness. It is the silence of contemplation such as occurs when we let our minds rest on a rosebud, a child at play, a Divine mystery, or a waterfall.
--Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979) American bishop of the Roman Catholic Church

Laurel Falls outside of Hampton, TN -- One of the most beloved and visited waterfalls in east Tennessee. Click here for directions. While you're in the area, you might also want to stretch your legs and rest your mind at Coon Den Falls and Dennis Cove.

We will always remember.

"Someday, Lis, I'll go back,'' said Private First Class Peter Robert Zanatta, of the 37th Engineer Combat Battalion, and first assault wave to hit Omaha Beach. "I'll go back, and I'll see it all again. I'll see the beach, the barricades, and the graves.'' .... Lisa Zanatta Henn began her story by quoting her father, who promised that he would return to Normandy. She ended with a promise to her father, who died 8 years ago of cancer: "I'm going there, Dad, and I'll see the beaches and the barricades and the monuments. I'll see the graves, and I'll put flowers there just like you wanted to do. I'll feel all the things you made me feel through your stories and your eyes. I'll never forget what you went through, Dad, nor will I let anyone else forget. And, Dad, I'll always be proud.''

Through the words of his loving daughter, who is here with us today, a D-day veteran has shown us the meaning of this day far better than any President can. It is enough for us to say about Private Zanatta and all the men of honor and courage who fought beside him four decades ago: We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free.

--Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) 40th President of the United States

Today marks the 65th anniversary of D-Day, the monumental, heroic allied invasion which ultimately led to the liberation of Europe from the dark grip of tyranny. I've collected some speeches and videos to help us remember and honor the courage of the soldiers who stormed the cliffs on that fate-filled day...

Click here to watch clips of President Reagan's two magnificent speeches made on the 40th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion. Click here and here to read the complete transcripts.
Click here to listen to General Eisenhower's speech to the troops the day before.

Click here to listen to President Roosevelt lead the American people in prayer on the day of the invasion.
Click here and here to listen to powerful speeches by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as he rallies his nation.
Finally here is a video with D-Day footage and speeches from Reagan and General Patton.

Above: A small waterfall located above Laurel Fork Falls in Carter County, TN.

Laurel Falls

This is probably the most popular, and arguably the most spectacular, waterfall in northeast Tennessee. But it's not necessarily the easiest to get to. The most popular route is to hike in from the top. It is a beautiful 1.2 mile trail that is level for much of the way with the first part actually following an old railroad bed. But the last quarter mile goes straight down. They've done a great job putting in stone steps all the way to the bottom, but it's still a difficult descent and a strenuous hike going back up. I was very surprised to see some folks down at the falls wearing flip-flops and carrying babies, they must be much more sure-footed than I (which actually isn't saying too much!). I'd recommend a good pair of hiking boots and on a hot day, a bottle or canteen of water. The 55' waterfall (also known as Laurel Fork Falls) is powerful and stunning after some heavy rains. As I mentioned, this one is popular, so I'd recommend starting out early and/or going on a weekday if possible. The other trail to the falls, which starts from just north of Hampton, TN, is described here. Click here to learn more about the Laurel Fork Railroad. Click here and here and here for more information and discussions about this popular waterfall.

Directions: Hampton, TN is located between the cities of Elizabethton and Roan Mountain on Highway 19E. Once in Hampton, turn north onto route 321/67 toward Mountain City. Drive 0.8 miles and turn right immediately in front of the Citizen's Bank onto Dennis Cove Road. Take this incredibly curvy and steep road for exactly 4 miles to a parking area and trailhead on your left. From here, begin your hike on the main trail on your left (which is actually the AT -- look for the white slashes on the trees. The smaller trail on your right meanders through some camping areas).  Click here for map.

Here's a really good video of the hike into Laurel Falls on the AT from Dennis Cove.

This video is also well done, describing the hike and giving some good photography tips.

Laurel Falls

 When asked about how to get to Laurel Falls (a.k.a. Laurel Fork Falls), I always recommend starting from the Dennis Cove side (described here) and hiking down to the falls. That's still not bad advice -- the Dennis Cove trail is level most of the way in and very pretty (however, the last 1/4 mile is very steep!). Today, I thought I would try something different -- I hadn't taken the trail to Laurel Falls from the Hampton side for many years. It was a much more beautiful hike than I ever remembered. Now that could be because it's winter and the views of the creek were better, or maybe it's because it was late afternoon and the light was great. Yes, it is a longer hike to the falls from the Hampton side -- however, this trail is much easier to get to (you don't have to drive over the mountain to Dennis Cove) and it's still a fairly easy trail (besides being muddy in places).

Directions: From 19E, turn on 321/67 (the main road through Hampton) drive 1.5 miles to the trailhead/parking area on the right. Follow the trail into the woods. The trail will soon split, but it doesn't matter which way you go, they meet up again in a little bit. If you're wondering, no, I didn't make it to the falls today -- I ran out of light. Here's a picture from May 2005.  Click here for map.