Kuwohi

 

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. (Psalm 32:1–7 ESV).

 

This is the last devotional that I will write before going “live” in the Smokies. Today I am thinking of Kuwohi (formerly known as Clingmans Dome) is the highest point in Tennessee, the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the third-highest mountain east of the Mississippi River, sitting at an elevation of 6,643 feet. The name “Kuwohi” is the ancestral Cherokee name for this peak. For hundreds of years before European contact, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and their ancestors knew the mountain by this name, which translates to “mulberry place” in the Tsalagi language. It is considered a focal point of traditional Cherokee homelands. Cherokee medicine people historically climbed the peak to pray, fast, and seek spiritual guidance from the “creator” before returning to advise tribal towns. As you can see from the attached picture, there are some incredible views available from this point straddling the state lines between North Carolina and Tennessee.

 

Perhaps more interesting is the fact that this mountain was believed to be a prominent place for important council meetings held by the bears of the Smokies! Regardless of the truth of that assertion, we do know that during the forced removal and the Trail of Tears in the 1830s, the rugged, remote slopes of Kuwohi provided a hiding place and haven for Cherokee individuals and families who managed to stay behind in their native land.

 

That reminded me of our reading today. David in writing this psalm, speaks of the refuge we find in the forgiveness of the Lord. That is our only real “hiding place! Only in Him do we find a protective shelter, hiding place, and shield during times of trouble and distress.

Have you ever noticed someone who just has that inner peace about them when difficult times enter into their lives? They cannot be shaken because their joy comes from their personal relationship with God through Christ. They know Him as “Father,” and their hope is in the truth of their adoption as His children through faith in Christ. As children of God, they are forgiven of all sins. That is the kind of peace and a happiness the world knows nothing about. It is a peace that does not go away when flood waters and fires take our homes, when cancer is detected in our body, or when a tragic car accident takes the life of an innocent child. God’s peace and the happiness it brings are unshakable to those who find their refuge in Christ!