Do You Love Me?

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I read today's Gospel through tears of joy. I was profoundly touched by the conversation between Jesus and Peter. I was moved to tears by the gentleness and compassion Jesus shows to Peter, and to us if we but ask.  The gregarious, outspoken disciple is finally humbled by the Lord and recognizes, maybe for the first time, that Jesus truly loves him, trusts him, forgives, and forgets all of Peter's failings and weaknesses. This passage is moving but we would do well to first read the entire 21st Chapter of John, a mere 25 verses to really understand how the relationship between these two men has moved to an entirely different level. John brings his Gospel to a close by taking us back to the very beginning of the relationship. Back then, Peter was out fishing all night, catching nothing, before his first encounter with the Lord. Here too, Peter, who is at this point confused, wrestling with emotions of hope and guilt, joy and sorrow, is out fishing all night catching nothing. Ag
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Out for a hike

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The boys and I decided to get away from the house for a while. Went hiking at two of our favorite places here in the beautiful Hocking Hills. First we went to Ash Cave and then to Cedar Falls. Enjoy....
And they're off!!!


Dad is lagging behind only to get great pictures and make sure no one gets lost. It is not because he is out of shape and can't keep up.

Ash Cave is not actually a cave but a sandstone recess. Here are pictures of the same area in the winter.

Two of my children - lower right. I don't know where the other two are...

Some visitors like to leave their mark on the sandstone walls. This fancy creation was in the sand on the floor of the area. If they had a man dressed like Jesus on one knee beside this it would be a great ad for the area!
Another view of Ash Cave. Note the person standing on top of the falls. INSANE!


This bridge is on the path to Cedar Falls. You can notice a bend in the bridge. The bridge was originally straight across the stream. A few years back we had some bad spring rains that brought flash flooding. Most of the bridges in the park were destroyed. This one was bent. They decided to restore it rather than remove it. To give you some idea of the amount and force of water that must have come through to bend this bridge, it is approximately 35 ft long, 12 ft high above the stream bed, and rest on two 2 ft I beams.

Cedar Falls (this is where I proposed to Nicole)


We weren't the only visitor to Cedar Falls.

The trail back to the parking lot is an adventure in itself.

Comments

Sarah Reinhard said…
This is one of my very favorite areas, Jim. I got all shivery and nostalgic looking at it...as a kid I went to these camps and we hiked our hearts out in that area... :)
9:19 AM
James M. Hahn said…
We don't go nearly as often as we could or should. Suffering from WCSS keeps me from taking the four boys to the heights at some of those places so we stick to the forest floor.

You are all welcome to come back! Still waiting on a visit. ;-)
11:20 PM
Sarah Reinhard said…
Funny you should mention WCSS in a comment that reminds me of the standing invite...

So there's been NO SLEEP this week (not looking for sympathy, just stating a fact), but I have not forgotten. Really. I promise. But I would like to come at a time when I can visit with the lovely Mrs. too! (Oh yes, and the Pretty Pink Princess, though I know it may be a while before she's home)
1:54 PM
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