Sunrise Over the Mountains
Beautiful vistas! That is one of the things most associated with the Appalachian region. Whether it is driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, walking the Appalachian Trail or taking your motorcycle over “The Snake,” beautiful vistas are plentiful. The area around Peace Mountain Ranch is full of beautiful views as well with glorious sunrises and spectacular sunsets.
It is this quiet, idyllic lifestyle that draws so many Veterans to the mountains of Tennessee, especially around Mountain City. The natural beauty, coupled with the slower pace, gives room for Veterans who are weary of people, weary of chaos, weary of war, to find rest. For the multitudes of Veterans who have trouble sleeping, the rising of the sun presents another day. The sunrise is often quiet, beautiful, and serene providing a counterbalance to the issues so many Veterans face. The sunrise provides a renewed sense of hope, a taste of peace, a bit of well-being in a world filled with pain, both physically and mentally.
Peace Mountain Ranch captures the beauty of the mountains and carries the serenity of the sunrise throughout the day. Bathed in prayer, Peace Mountain Ranch is a place where Veterans can experience the divine through an encounter with the Holy Spirit. Veterans who have visited Peace Mountain Ranch tell us they can feel a difference from the moment they step out of the car. For some, Peace Mountain Ranch feels like home; a feeling they never thought they would feel again. Peace is found in feeding the cattle, working with Riella, our horse, or helping around the Ranch. There is sense of purpose in caring for the land and livestock. There is a connectedness that comes from getting back to basics, if only for a day or two. There is a peace that passes all understanding that comes from spending time in God’s creation away from the concrete, the traffic, the noise, and the headaches of the city.
There is peace in the sunset at Peace Mountain Ranch. After a day of reflection, many Veterans find solace in the sunset as they sit and reminisce around the campfire. The beauty of an Appalachian sunset calms the soul. To sit and relax after a day of work, share a story or two and enjoy a fire can bring back laughter, a sense of belonging and a bit of wonder at the beauty of God’s creation.
Peace is critical to finding the path to healing. We often find our everyday life to be chaotic, filled with hustle and bustle. It is hard to find peace in that world. The chaotic mind doesn’t have time for peace, for serenity; it doesn’t have time to find the path that leads to healing. John of the Cross, a Spanish priest, called this period in our lives “The Dark Night of the Soul,” a period when we are so heavily burdened that we cannot see how God can ever find us to rescue us. Joseph Campbell said, “The dark night of the soul comes just before the revelation. When everything is lost, and all seems darkness, then comes the new life and all that is needed.” Then comes the new life, but not without a glimmer of light in the darkness, not without something or someone to lead us out. The something is the Holy Spirit, and the someone may be you, or me. The Holy Spirit often works through believers, reaching out to those who feel lost and lonely.
When Veterans come to Peace Mountain Ranch they find a slower pace, time to reflect, time to explore their thoughts, time to receive timely, thoughtful counsel. They find Veterans who understand the darkness and who can lead them to the light. Natural activities like hiking around the Ranch, working with the animals or caring for the land lead to needed conversations that are organic, deep, and powerful. Conversations that lead to realization, help foster hope, and that uncover a path toward healing, showing them that lasting peace is possible.
Are you a Veteran burdened with the turmoil of combat? Peace Mountain Ranch could be a place of refuge for you. A place where Veterans who have seen the horrors of war can come alongside you and help you see the sunrise again, help you feel connected again, help you find peace and healing. Please consider contacting us about a visit.
Do you care about Veterans? Peace Mountain Ranch needs partners, both those who share their time and talents and those who support us financially. Veterans don’t pay a thing to stay at Peace Mountain Ranch, but there are expenses, and we cannot function without the financial gifts of generous supporters. Please prayerfully consider supporting Peace Mountain Ranch today.
