Thar's bears in them hills

We arrived without mishap except for one small heart attack, but Holly, my sister, says the symptoms of a panic attack are often indistinguishable from cardiac arrest. We unpacked and gazed out the glorious deck overlooking Smith Mountain Lake. I would be spending a week before the wedding in these idyllic surroundings. Our condo sits right on the lake and from our second floor balcony, I can watch the osprey and bald eagles (just saw one!) , and the mountains in the distance.

Asherel and I walked down to the marina to talk about storing our kayaks there for the week. The owner,Trey was very accomodating and found us a little slip on the water where we can put them, at no charge!

"Kayaking on the lake is great," he said, "Yesterday a lady was right off that point" (he pointed just across the small inlet)"And she saw something large swimming. She went a little closer and realized it was a big black bear."
"Really?! I've never seen a bear in the wild."
"Yes you have," said Asherel, "What about the bear on roller skates?"
"Yes, but no one believes me about that one," I said.
Trey looked at me with an arched eyebrow.
"You'll see lots of wildlife."
"Will I havea chance seeing a bear on my morning run?" I asked.
"You will be likely to see a bear," he said, "They are all over the place. And see that nest up there? That's an osprey nest. And there are eagles, and deer..."
"Now back to the bears," I said with furrowing brow,"You said likely...."
"And lots of wildlife. Be careful if you run on the road though. They drive fast."
"But about the bears...."
"M'am, the bears will be more afraid of you than you are of them."

I'm thinking that for someone who is having minor heart attacks just thinking of all the events of the coming week, it is not likely the bear will be more afraid than me.

"But I hope I do see a bear," I told Asherel as we walked back to the condo, "In the distance...where they belong."

Lamentations 3:10-11, 21-23 NIV

Like a bear lying in wait,
like a lion in hiding, he dragged me from the path and mangled me
and left me without help.

Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

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