This used to really depress me and the result would be my moping around the house all weekend with Elisha (who is 2 1/2) pulling his hair out from boredom. Fortunately at some point I decided to stop the pouting and start making a concerted effort to do something special with my balding son and his indifferent baby brother. I reclaimed those nights and began to look forward to them again.
For a while we would go swimming or go the theater and motchamoobie (as Elisha says) but recently we've begun to commit ourselves to more masculine ventures. Camping and hiking and rock hopping in rivers are just a few or our favorite activities and all with Elisha keeping up marvelously and Phoenix bouncing along happily in his backpack child carrier. Mosquito bites, copious sweating, and scrapes and scratches that were once considered unwelcome nuisance are now regarded as integral components to "Man Night".
On tonights agenda was the calf obliterating ascent of the 600 (as in stairs) steps between the base and the apex of Amicalola Falls near Dahlonega, GA. I secured Phoenix in his Kelty back-papoos and Elisha and I set out on our journey. On the right side of the falls there is a concrete trail that winds upwards for 200 yards or so which eventually ends where the stair case begins. These are in no way "steps" in the traditional sense. As you stand at the first step looking up at architecture that appears to have been inspired by any of Tim Burtons films and you read the sign that says, "175 Steps - Difficulty=Strenuous" you can't help but do a brief inventory of your capabilities. Mine aren't that impressive but Elisha was already running up them at full throttle and I certainly wasn't going to be outdone.
175 steps and 175 liters or sweat later we made it to the Bridge which stradels the falls and provides you with the best view. I have lived in this area most of my life and have sadly taken them for granted because they really are beautiful. The bridge itself was the cause of much alarm for Elisha because you can see through the metal slats straight down to the scariest bit of the falls below. He informed me in no uncertain terms that there would be no relishing of the scenery and that moving on really way the best plan. And so we proceeded to the next stage of our ascent...another stair case but this time there were 425 steps awaiting.
I wish I had taken a picture looking up at this last staircse. It looked like a tangled mess of stairs and wood and more stairs and more wood. I felt like Frodo for a moment. I really didn't think we going to make it to the top. Elisha began to grow quite impatient with me as I was stopping every 20 steps or so to prevent having a massive heart attack and falling with Phoenix into the falls. I guess I looked as taxed as I felt because a passerby stopped and after looking me up and down said in a very concerned voice, "buddy, you need to be careful". I was careful and eventually we did make it to those last georgeous steps at the top.
After we ate the grilled chicken on Artesian Bread with mayo, dijon mustard, fresh basil, fresh sliced tomato, topped with ground sea salt and ground black pepper (which is currently my favorite way not to starve) we took our shoes and socks off and stepped into the river which seems far too small to feed such a powerful waterfall. I sat on a rock and held Phoenix where his feet were barely in the water so he could do his River Dance bit (kicking wildly on the surface of the water) while Elisha threw rocks at the fence that keeps you from going over the edge. I tried to explain to Elisha that this was where Mommy and Daddy were married but its a little tricky when he probably doesn't even see us as two individuals but rather as one unit. On second thought maybe he already does get it. We took a couple of photos for Mommy and others and began our descent.
There was a cool breeze blowing against our sweaty bodies and slate gray storm clouds positioning themselves on the horizon. Moisture seeped out of moss covered stones and oak leaves flickered as they alternated light and dark bottom-top-bottom-top. It was so wonderful and soothing. A welcome reprieve in an otherwise not so soothing life that I live. I was with my boys and I really was so happy just being with them. It made me think of Heaven and how amazing it will be to sit with my wife and children and family and friends for eternity enjoying some majestic geography with no other agenda but just being together without work or school or any other of our myriad obligations looming like Pooh's rain cloud over our heads. I'm so thankful that every once in a while God provides us with these glimpses through the cracks in the ceiling of this world. The more I seek Him the more I find Him in everyday places but when I need to be renewed and replenished and loved by my Father I see Him most clearly and most inspiringly in nature where His artistry can be seen without human obstruction. I love that I can share these things with my boys.
The topic I will be teaching on is community. In particular how we as Christians are supposed to behave as a community and also why we so desperately need community to be healthy and whole. God does this a lot but its not by chance that I just happen to be preaching on the night when community is the subject. This has been a focal point for me this year as I have tried to emerge out of the suburban cocoon into real Christian service by engaging those outside of my arena of exposure and living Christ for them. I have also abandoned my hermit digs in the mountains and come down into the village by which I mean I have really made an effort this year to lean more on my brothers and sisters and in turn be leaned on more by them. Anyway, I'm really excited to be speaking on this topic and I would really appreciate your prayers that I won't foul it up by being nervous or too self concious. One plus is that I will be communicating through a translator so I will have to take it slow and it will make the time go by a lot faster. The one downside to that is while he's translating you have all that time to think about whatever boneheaded thing you might have just said. See what I mean? I need prayer. 
