Promised Land

As a young boy . . . a really long, long time ago 😊. . .  I spent summers fishing and wandering the forests of Promised Land State Park in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. Eight decades later it remains my Happy Place where life’s trails and responsibilities consisted of running out of worms and bailing out a leaky, wooden rowboat.

Yesterday, I returned to Promised Land. A dense fog draped the forest in an ethereal mist, and memories flooded in as I stepped back into my childhood . . . the small cabin where I devoured scrumptious meals prepared by my mother and grandmother, falling asleep listening to katydids serenading in the night . . . the path where a black bear and I spooked each other, quickly departing in opposite directions . . . the ‘secret’ spot on the lake where I caught a huge largemouth bass as the sun rose above the mountains.

My soul danced in wonder and gratitude. Wonder how God’s loving Providence had placed me in this Promised Land as a child to ease the vacancy of an absentee father. Gratitude for His amazing grace and mercy that, in spite of my countless failures, has sustained me along life’s journey to my eternal Promised Land.

In the silent mists a verse reminded me of my undeserved blessings, and the brevity of life . . .

“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” – James 4:14

Here’s a few pics of my misty Promised Land . . .

I M Blessed . . . May U B 2