The Cloud Machine

As adults, we know that things are not always as they seem.
Take this, for instance. 

My grandchildren call this The Cloud Machine.
Sounds magical and great fun. Sounds like I wish I had one.
Who would not want to be able to pump out great, poofy, white clouds? Wonderful.

It's all a matter of perspective.
In fact, this is steam rising from the cooling tower of the nuclear plant about eleven miles through the woods.

My grandchildren don't know about the evacuation plan that comes out in the plant's annual calendar. They don't think about the iodine pills that were passed out in a drive through line at the local high school to protect the livers of those near the plant in case of a melt down. They don't care about the tall siren poles located in front of their home to sound the alarm in the event of a declared emergency at the plant. They don't know that their granny kept a large suitcase filled with old clothes and supplies packed for years "just in case" evacuation was necessary.

To these babies, this is simply The Cloud Machine.  

So many of our perspectives, as participants of this world, are from a "Cloud Machine" point of view. We see only a part of the truth or miss something because the truth is hidden from us.
This can be naively good, in a sense, if we can find beauty and fun in something that is  potentially dangerous, like the nuclear plant "Cloud Machine." On the other hand, this cloudy perspective, or inability to see things clearly, can hinder us from having an eternal outlook if we are not careful.
Take Scripture, for instance; without the Holy Spirit to teach us, there is no way that we can understand the full truth of the Word.
Take Heaven, for instance; without going there, no way can we grasp its wonder from our earthly perspective. 

Open my eyes, [Father] that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. 
(Psalm 119:18)

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (I Corinthians 13:12)

Granny's Pantry # 31: Healing Springs Revisited

According to a Davidson County online visitors' site, a free pastime near Denton, NC, is to "Locate remnants of the Healing Springs Resort along Highway 8 which was popular from the 1840’s through the early 1900’s" (http://www.visitdavidsoncounty.com/factsandinfo.html).  

But you have to know what you are looking for and where to look. We explored the most maintained and protected remains of the old resort in Granny's Pantry # 28: Finding Healing Springs (10/4/15). But I had heard there might be more.
An online friend asked if I had found a picture of the tavern. No, no pictures.

I found very little by way of history of the place in my searching. Didn't even know where the tavern was in relation to the existing remnants in their little park off of Highway 8. But there was a tavern, according to http://www.carolana.com/NC/Counties/davidson_county_nc.html. "Early visitors tell of a tavern and cabins to serve the needs of visitors to the springs." The source goes on to say that, "The only visible remnants of Healing Springs 'resort' today are several rock shelters." I don't necessarily agree. There is a pool, but what about the tavern?

My brother, who lives at High Rock where Granny lived, had not seen the Springs site; so, one Sunday we set out. I love the quiet and sheltered place where the two rock grottoes and the pool lie.

on the grotto side

But then I happened to look up a small rise directly across the highway ...and there were some unprotected remains of a building constructed, apparently, from the same type of stone and slate as the springs structures.

looking across Hwy 8

Could this be what's left of the tavern? 

small corner chimney

 

remains of old road bed?

My online friend agrees that what I saw may be the tavern. It's too small to be a hotel. He says the old post office still stands and that he has found evidence of other structures/cabins. So there's more to find.
I'm always glad to know there's more out there to find...whatever it is.  

my best and only brother

"there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother"
(Proverbs 18:24b)

Shhhhhhh...

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear,
slow to speak, slow to anger   (James 1:19)

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.   (Proverbs 17: 27-28)