Today was the last full day of my 2017 Smoky Mountains vacation. Yes, a good time was had by all. Including me.

I believe I’ve stored up enough good memories to carry me along until my next vacation, whenever that may be. 

 I saw some reminders of the fire that tore through the area last year, but thankfully, a lot more managed to escape unscathed. I’m especially thankful that the main part of Gatlinburg where all the shops and restaurants (including the Pancake Pantry) are wasn’t burned.

My thoughts and prayers are still with those who are still rebuilding their lives and their homes a year later, long after the media has largely forgotten about them. They still have a long way to go to get back to any sense of normal.

But I believe the people here are strong and sturdy. They will survive. They will carry on. It will take a lot more than a fire to kill the spirit of te people of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the rest of Sevier County.

In the midst of all that, I’m grateful to still have a place like this to come to for vacation and create new and lasting memories.

Thank you for making my vacation great.

“The Christ within who is our hope of glory is not a matter of theological debate or philosophical speculation. He is not a hobby, a part-time project, a good theme for a book, or a last resort when all human effort fails. He is our life, the most real fact about us. He is the power and wisdom of God dwelling within us” (Brennan Manning, Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging).

Tonight, I had a semi-crazy notion. I wondered, “What would Brennan Manning say about all the political mess we’re in where we seem to grow more divided every single day?”

He might have a few strong words for a President who uses his office as a kind of bully pulpit to shame and mock those who disagree with him. He might bemoan the alm0st complete lack of compasion coming from the so-called religious right.

He also might have a few words for those whose motto was “Love trumps hate,” yet in turn mocks and jeers the current President and whose anger borders on hostility.

He’d say that Abba’s children should be a prophetic voice that cries from outside the political spectrum, whose message is that Jesus loves each and every one of us (even the Trumps of the world) as if we each were the only ones to love. He’d say that no one is beyong the reach of the grace of God.

I believe he’d say that kindness and compassion are way more fitting of a child of Abba than name-calling and fear-mongering. He’d remind us that our ultimate allegience is not to a political party, platform, or ideology, but to the person of Jesus. Not to a flag, a president, and a nation, but to a King and a Kingdom.

“Whenever I allow anything but tenderness and compassion to dictate my response to life–be it self-righteous anger, moralizing, defensiveness, the pressing need to change others…I am alienated from my true self. My identity as Abba’s child [a child of God] becomes ambiguous, tentative and confused” (Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out).

I’m not much of a fan of knick-knacks and cutesy crafts and such. But today I saw a little wooden handcrafted sign that resonated with me. Plus, it was only $4.95 (not including tax).

It said, “Kindness is like snow. Everything it covers is made beautiful.”

This world sure could use more kindness. I’ve seen enough hatred and animosity spoken and posted in the name of politics and religion to last several lifetimes. I’ve seen way too much hostility displayed on social media over those who dare to disagree with someone’s viewpoint.

I don’t see all that hate and vitriol getting us anywhere, except maybe more divided and paranoid.

Kindness goes a long way. Kindness trumps getting even in the same way that grace always trumps karma (and isn’t it odd how people always seem to want karma for others and forgiveness for themselves?)

I choose kindness whenever possible. Kindness opens doors and breaks down walls and creates bridges of understanding between two sides.

Whenever possible, err on the side of grace and kindness. You won’t go wrong.

Here I am, back in Gatlinburg for the umpteenth time. This time, I’m staying in a rental cabin up in the mountains.

The downside? The roads are narrow, winding, and scary. Especially at night. It’s like something out of one of those horror movies they used to show on TV after midnight.

The upside? I can see actual stars. Sitting out on the balcony in the dark is already becoming my favorite activity here. I believe everyone needs to get out away from suburbia into a place where they can see stars in the night sky at least once a year, if not more often.

For me, Gatlinburg feels like a time machine that takes me back to my childhood. Sure, a lot has changed, but overall, it looks and feels the same as it did way back in the 80’s.

I’m anticipating good times and lots of good food for the next four days. A good time will be had by all.

I had all sorts of plans about what I was going to write about tonight, but it’s 11:09 pm and I am officially dog tired, so this one will be short and sweet. Or maybe just short.

For me, at the end of the day there’s nothing more inviting than a warm soft bed. I personally like to turn on the ceiling fan, even in the dead of winter, because something about the sound helps to put me to sleep.

I read something on social media that was fitting for me. It went something like this: I’m good in bed. I could sleep for days.

Right now, that’s very appropriate. I probably could sleep for days. Unfortunately, my wake up call tomorrow is still 5 am.

So good night to all of you out there reading this and have pleasant dreams and comfortable sheets.