Kim Wilbanks

The Motivation

Have you ever felt the need to get away from it all? To simply pack your things, turn your back on the stresses and struggles of life, and go somewhere else — somewhere you can escape from the difficult things? I have, just last month.

When my dad died last summer, it felt as if someone had pulled the rug out from under me. He was in poor health for several years but his death did not seem imminent, that is, not until he was diagnosed with COVID the day before Mother’s Day. He was gone a month later.

I felt like I was just getting my footing back in my life, regaining my balance when the rug was pulled out from under me once again. My mom was going into hospice care. Wait, what? It’s not supposed to be like this. She needs to live another ten years, like her mother. I wasn’t ready for this.

The summer was a hard one. My mom was at home, quickly fading away for the first five weeks. After she passed, it was another seven weeks until her memorial service. In between, all the things that need to be done when someone passes.

Let’s Get Away

My husband and I were exhausted so a couple of days after her service, we loaded the car and headed north to the mountains of North Carolina for the month of October.

We didn’t do much while we were there. We rested and recovered. I read and wrote again. We ate good food, spent time with friends, and enjoyed the spectacular beauty of God’s creation. I slept better and my stomach ceased its constant churning.

My favorite pastime while we were in the mountains was watching the sunrise.

Sunrise In The Mountains

When I awoke there would be a faint glow in the eastern sky. The glow would intensify and create a silhouette of the mountain range. The underside of any clouds in the sky would turn the prettiest shade of pinkish coral. The coming sun would illuminate the side of Grandfather Mountain in all of its jewel-toned splendor. Finally, the sun itself would appear like a zenith from behind the mountain. Glorious.

I enjoyed this morning ritual while sipping a steaming hot cup of coffee with a splash of pumpkin spice creamer. Boone was my sunrise companion. We would stand on the balcony and take in all the sights and sounds of the world waking up. It was still and quiet until the sun was peeking over the mountain — that’s when the birds would begin their morning symphony. One morning we heard some rustling below us. I thought for sure it was a deer. I scanned the woods below us with the binoculars but only saw two squirrels, probably gathering acorns for the coming winter. 

Some mornings were cold so I wrapped myself in a blanket but the temperature was mild other mornings. Sometimes dense fog completely obscured the sunrise. At other times, the Grandfather was enshrouded by clouds, but even so, I knew he was there, ever faithful, looking to the sky, to God.

As I watched the sunrise, different thoughts would come to mind.

• This is the day which the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
• His mercies are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23
• Here comes the sun – the Beatles
• Morning has broken like the first morning – Cat Stevens
• From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the Lord’s name is to be praised. Psalm 113:3

It was a much-needed time of rest.

Repeat As Necessary

We returned home on the first of November to face a couple of weeks of intense house-clearing. We’re tired again, it’s just so much. But thankfully, we are headed back to our mountain sanctuary to celebrate Thanksgiving with our kids. I’m sure I will spend some mornings watching the sunrise again. Perhaps my little grandson will join me.

How about you? Do you ever feel like you just need to get away? Where is your favorite place to escape to? I’d love to hear.