VISIT RUBY FALLS

In the fall of each year, at least for the past several years, I have driven my mom to her home in Florida for the winter.  We drive her car, I spend a few days with her, and then I fly home.  In the spring, it is the same in reverse.  Each time, as we drive through the Chattanooga, Tennessee area, we see big red signs urging us to SEE RUBY FALLS, COME TO LOOK-OUT MOUNTAIN, VISIT ROCK CITY.  We’re intrigued.  “We should go,” we say.  But, because of weather or timing we haven’t made the stop.  For the past couple of years, my husband and I make the very same trip to Florida to spend time with my mom and to spend a few weeks enjoying the warmth and sunshine during the cold Minnesota winters.  Each time we drive through Chattanooga Tennessee, we, too, see those big red signs – SEE RUBY FALLS, COME TO LOOK-OUT MOUNTAIN, VISIT ROCK CITY.  So, a few weeks ago, on our way home from Florida to Minnesota, we decided to stop.  My mom was happy that someone was finally going to check this thing out and wanted a “full report” once we’d made our visit.

We followed the signs up, up, up the mountain, curves and switchbacks this way and that, stunning views of the city below, beautiful vine covered trees in the woods as we climbed higher and higher.  At the top, we see a castle of sorts, the entry into Ruby Falls, and the somewhat typical touristic destination.  Ticket counter, coffee and snack shop, and, of course, the obligatory gift shop.  We purchase our tickets and get in line with about 10 others (a small group compared to others we learn later).  At our tour guide’s beckoning, we enter a large stainless steel elevator with a glass door.  Once the door is closed we drop quickly, 260 feet (about 20 stories) down into the mountain.  My first response is to grab my husband’s arm and make a small moaning sound.  I’m really not into speedy plunges into the unknown.  But, very quickly, our ride is over.  We are now in the belly of this great mountain.  As we exit the elevator, we move into a cornucopia of stalagmites and stalactites, limestone, sandstone and rock.  Cave like tunnels meander through the mountain; in some areas there is plenty of head and shoulder room; in other areas we have to duck and turn slightly sideways to get through.  So, after a drop of 260 feet, we traveled about ½ mile through these tunnels.  Our tour guide pointed out beautiful rock formations of interest; one looked like an alligator, another, like angel’s wings, and still another, like a plate filled with steak, potato and a carrot!  Every once in awhile you would hear the sound of water trickling beneath your feet or see a small stream off to one side or the other.  As we neared the falls, the sound of water became louder.  The lights dimmed and beautiful spa-like music filled the air.  Colored lights did a delightful dance on the walls as we walked closer and closer.  The music hit a crescendo as the falls were lit up in gorgeous pinks and blues.  Here, inside this mountain, a 146 foot waterfall crashing into a small pool below.  We were in awe!  What a beautiful work of God’s making!  What a miraculous moment!

This past weekend, I attended Set Apart, a faith-filled conference for women at Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN.  The weekend reminded me of my trip to Ruby Falls.  We plunged down deep into our souls; we traveled through the tunnels of our life journeys.  We remembered the times that our journeys were filled with sharp, treacherous rocks.  We remembered the times that our journeys got very tight in places, forcing us to duck, turn sideways and sometimes turn around.  We searched, we studied, we learned.  And as we remembered, as we searched, we saw many beautiful things along the way.  We even saw how some things in our past that were dark, sharp and treacherous at the time, had now become smoothed and made beautiful.  And, at the end of the weekend, after much soul searching and God searching, we found our Ruby Falls; the beauty and wonder inside each of us, the grace and faithfulness of God who has made us as we are, just as He wants us to be.  Beautiful, unconditionally loved, Women of Faith.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous – and how well I know it.

                Psalm 139:14

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

Ephesians 3:20

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love.  Death can’t, and life can’t.  The angels can’t, and the demons can’t.  Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away.

Romans 8:38