Rome News-Tribune

Tussie and Jordy See

- DECK CHEATHAM GUEST COLUMNIST Deck Cheatham has been a golf profession­al for more than 40 years. He lives with his family in Dalton. Contact him at pgadeacon@gmail.com.

Tired, Tussie and Jordy decided to press on, leaving the cemetery behind. Feeling enlightene­d by their encounter with Old Salt, neither knew what the journey would bring.

Jordy said, “This trail is covered with canopy but there is enough light shining through to see our way. Someone has cleared the way before us. The path is worn and seeing it welltravel­ed means there is a destinatio­n ahead. The thicket entangling the trees arch over the trail as a protection. Tussie, I think it’s safe to continue.”

Jordy, there is more here than meets the eye. The path is calling us. I sense a comfort with each step but also concern. Only by following will we know what will come. I have heard from the Timorians of an upthrust beyond the forest and savannah. There is a precipice at the edge of this upthrust overlookin­g a valley. There, the terrain is uncertain should a traveler veer from the way. Remember the seer’s words. Truth cannot be found where you are, only where you are not. To get where you are not, look inward, then upward and follow. All is hidden until it is not.

Still accompanie­d by the light, the two companions forged on. When the sun and moon opposed eight times, Tussie and Jordy found themselves on the precipice of which the Timorians spoke. Below, lush swells and drumlins framed a rushing stream. Our travelers craved sustenance. The valley beckoned.

Jordy, before you find our descent, do you see what I see?

Yes, there is movement below, perhaps a haze or a shadow. But there are no clouds in the sky and no wind and I cannot make out any living creatures. It appears the vegetation shifts.

Jordy, below are eddies of the varied inclinatio­ns of men making their way. From this distance, the doubt and pride, the hypocrisy and narrowmind­edness, the self-righteousn­ess mass together in uniformity flowing over the landscape detaching their intentions as normal, preferenti­al and colorless. Remember, all is hidden until it is not. In the valley, men believe they can be better than you, or worse, as good as you. This is a dangerous precipice upon which we stand. The Light warns us against these things.

Tussie, this gives me pause. I am not sure what to think.

Doubt, if uncertaint­y, is not a dreadful thing. If soured, doubt questions truth and stunts belief. Uncertaint­y leads us to deeper thoughts, stills us for further revelation. Uncertaint­y is not knowing, the other, unwilling. In the valley, it’s easy to think the self is everything, to choose our own nature and the entangleme­nts accompanyi­ng that confinemen­t. To have your own way is the easy path.

Tussie, how do you know this?

This precipice allows us to see from a distance, allows a knowing above knowledge. Humility is our fear, the consequenc­e of being less. Uncertaint­y is the great rock of faith, and still, we long for certainty and cast aside its unkindness.

Tussie, I’m glad the Light is with us.

 ?? Steven Eckhoff ?? Douglas Grogan passes out fans before the singing starts under the pavilion at the 154th Morrison Campground camp meeting. Grogan is director of music and arts at First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Steven Eckhoff Douglas Grogan passes out fans before the singing starts under the pavilion at the 154th Morrison Campground camp meeting. Grogan is director of music and arts at First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
 ?? ?? The Rev. Brad Prater preaches the morning service on Saturday at the Morrison Campground camp meeting in Rome. Evening services start at 7:30 p.m. each night and are open to all evangelica­l Christians.
The Rev. Brad Prater preaches the morning service on Saturday at the Morrison Campground camp meeting in Rome. Evening services start at 7:30 p.m. each night and are open to all evangelica­l Christians.
 ?? ?? Bible study, outdoor games and free time to explore nature together are among the youth activities presented during the annual camp meeting revival and reunion at Morrison Campground.
Bible study, outdoor games and free time to explore nature together are among the youth activities presented during the annual camp meeting revival and reunion at Morrison Campground.
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 ?? ?? “There is something special about worshiping in the great outdoors that draws one closer to God,” Judye Kerce Williams writes on the website at MorrisonCa­mpground.org.
“There is something special about worshiping in the great outdoors that draws one closer to God,” Judye Kerce Williams writes on the website at MorrisonCa­mpground.org.
 ?? ?? Morrison Campground in Rome, Georgia, is the site of an annual 10-day revival that brings scattered generation­s of families back to share meals, music, worship services and outdoor fun.
Morrison Campground in Rome, Georgia, is the site of an annual 10-day revival that brings scattered generation­s of families back to share meals, music, worship services and outdoor fun.

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