It was semi-warm yesterday but rather breezy which usually means it doesn’t really feel all that warm. But by mid-afternoon, the skies had pretty much cleared and so it looked warmer. Sometimes, the way things look can make things seem better. Things seemed so much better by 3:30, I decided to head out to the Cowley Lake Waterfall.

Since I’d already been out to the waterfall three or four times before and had never seen any water falling, I expected this trip to be the same. That was okay by me; it’s a really pretty area and Layla and I would enjoy the hiking. Layla is our rescued French Brittany Spaniel and Friendly Neighborhood mix and she loves to be outside. She always loves the rare opportunities she has had to be outside, unconfined and untethered. Besides, my brother Paul was here for the weekend and he’s never seen the Cowley Lake Waterfall, with or without water.

After we parked the car and Layla had made the necessary preparations for continuation, we continuated. Much to my surprise, I heard water falling. Sure enough, when we had made our way past the shroud of brush and branches, we could see water spilling over the north edge of the stone lip and streaming down onto the ground thirty feet below the crest of the falls.

We made our way down the bouldered trail to a lower vantage point. Water tumbled over and around the boulders, stones and rocks, streaming its way downstream, twisting around exposed roots and into the chutes. Silver ripples and reflecting edges showed the ledges of a few flat boulders. The smooth flat of deeper pools downstream gleamed in the afternoon sun as the creek moved from the shadows into the light.

We stood beneath old sycamores and young saplings, looking up at the cascade of water and the lichen covered edges of exposed bedrock. The sounds and sights of powerful waters pouring into the deep pool and pushing into the seams was both soothing and stirring. I have to admit, a waterfall with water falling over it is even more impressive than a dry one.

It is a similar difference with a Christian in whom the Spirit of God truly lives and moves.

H. Arnett
2-8-16