Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
6:32 am Friday, December 8, 2000

Life-changing beauty in the outdoors

By By Debbie Young
Dec. 8, 2000
There are times in one's life when something emerges  an event, a person, a place, a sight, a sound  after which suddenly nothing is ever the same again.
I have been blessed throughout my life for many of these moments to occur in the outdoors. Some wonder why my family prefers taking our vacations camping out. Friends may say, "My idea of camping is the Holiday Inn as opposed to the Hilton."
Many of you know why we vacation in a tent, because you are reading the Outdoors Section. You are an outdoor person. You live to hunt, fish or hike, maybe even climb mountains. But just maybe one of you has strayed here from the political cartoons, editorials, or even the funnies.
Let me tell you about the great outdoors.
People speak of the beauty of crystal chandeliers, candlelight, and the like. I, however, have seen nature's most beautiful light source.
Lying one night in my sleeping bag in my tent, pitched facing east at the very edge of a gorge on the Cumberland plateau, I was awakened one night by a bright light, and couldn't believe it could be sunrise already.
I turned over and looked out the tent window directly in front of me to see one of the most amazing sights I have ever witnessed. The biggest, brightest full moon I have ever seen, literally filled my entire field of sight. It was rising right there, in perfect line with the tent window, coming up over the ridge and seeming to stand still as it filled the campsite with light as bright as morning.
On that night everything changed for me. I will never again see light made by the hands of man without making an instant comparison with the light made to fill the night sky by the hand of God. There are no words to describe the awe.
Another of the most beautiful sights I have ever witnessed was here in Lauderdale County. Last spring our church began a tradition that I hope continues forever. Twice a year we camp out together, usually about 30 brave and hardy souls, spending quality time together in the great outdoors.
I am blessed to belong to a church with people who just plain ole like to have fun. The things you learn in camp about people you normally only see in their Sunday best is priceless. People emerging from their tents on Sunday morning provide a parade of hairstyles and attire that Mr. Blackwell would love to add to his list.
Amid the laughter on a Sunday morning last October, I saw something that once again changed my perceptions forever. Many of us vacation by visiting museums full of beautiful paintings created by masters of art. We marvel at the play of color and light in a painting or photograph, the graceful form of a sculpture.
But on this morning, I saw color in a way that forever changed my perception of beauty.
Just as we came out of the tents the sun was making its debut into Sunday morning. Deep purple high up in the sky cascaded down through blue, pink, red, orange and the most golden color I have ever seen, and reflected a glorious fusion of colors on the surface of the lake.
No combination of man-made colors can compare. All art is imitation. I have seen the original.
For those of you who strayed here, maybe you'd like to join us on a regular basis, not just here in the Outdoors Section, but in the real outdoors. Buy a tent and some hiking boots. You'll be all the rage.
Hunt, fish, climb rocks, or just sit on the edge of a lake or pond and look and listen and smell the beauty of the outdoors for yourself.
Join us and see what you've been missing.
Debbie Young, of Meridian, is a banker and an avid outsdoorswoman.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025