THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK DEVOTIONAL
Life Lesson on Clingmans Dome.
By Hal Steenson
April 12th, 2026
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8
Looking at those old vacation photographs, I was reminded of how hot it was that week, even in the Great Smoky Mountains. I was wearing shorts in that picture, and with my skinny legs, that was a rare occurrence! The photo showed some of us sitting on a concrete bench trying to catch our breath. We were on our way up the walkway that led to Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the Smokies.
From Gatlinburg, Tennessee, it was a 16-mile drive through the forest to Newfound Gap, and then another seven miles before we reached the Dome. The temperature from the Gap to the Dome usually drops about 20 to 30 degrees, but that blistering July day, the heat seemed to actually rise. And after we reached the Dome parking lot, we became aware that there was another quarter-mile uphill walk to the Dome Observation Tower, and it seemed to be at a 45-degree angle!
Every time we went there, we always took several pictures on the way up, but very few on the way down—probably because we stopped more to rest on the way up, and scurried back quickly on the downhill trek. It was always fun to tease the groups headed to the Tower who were only a short distance from reaching it, by saying, “Hey, don’t give up, you’re about halfway there!” Many of them looked as if they would cry! And it was during one of my complaining moments that God decided to give me a “checkup from the neck up,” and a real life lesson.
We were about halfway up the trail, and boy, was I complaining. This was a National Park, so surely they had money to install some easier way to get up that hill! I couldn’t understand why they didn’t have a tram to shuttle people up and down this mountain. At least they could offer golf carts to fat people like me! I would be happy to pay for a ride to the top.
Then it was time for God’s lesson, and it came from behind us. Someone was laughing. No, two people were laughing, and they were laughing hysterically! What in the name of pinecones could be so funny on this mountain? Nothing about this experience was funny to me. And not only were they laughing, but they were also making all kinds of strange noises. There were squeaking sounds like wheels turning, and stomping sounds like a soldier marching in combat boots.
I turned around just in time to see a tall lanky country boy taking long strides, almost running up the path in a pair of cowboy boots—pushing a wheelchair, and laughing at his wife, who was having the ride of her life as they headed for the observation tower.
I heard him politely asking, “Excuse me sir. Excuse me ma’am. We’re coming through.” And she would laugh even harder.
I might add that she was no frail little thing, so his work was cut out for him, and he was loving every minute of it. She laughed, and he laughed, as they headed to the top of the world.
At first, everyone else on the path was shocked, but then they began to laugh and rejoice with that couple. I laughed a little, too, then looked for a hole to climb into and hide! How many people have heard me griping and complaining? I wondered. What do I really have to nitpick over? My wife is healthy and walking by my side.
Why wasn’t he complaining? It may have been because they were both too busy enjoying life to concern themselves with unimportant things. It may have been because they were too much in love with one another that day to have thought about anything else.
Maybe he got up every day, looked at her, and said, “Thank God you’re alive!” to which she responded, “Thank God that I have you!” and then they both laughed.
Life Lesson on Clingmans Dome.
By Hal Steenson
April 12th, 2026
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8
Looking at those old vacation photographs, I was reminded of how hot it was that week, even in the Great Smoky Mountains. I was wearing shorts in that picture, and with my skinny legs, that was a rare occurrence! The photo showed some of us sitting on a concrete bench trying to catch our breath. We were on our way up the walkway that led to Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the Smokies.
From Gatlinburg, Tennessee, it was a 16-mile drive through the forest to Newfound Gap, and then another seven miles before we reached the Dome. The temperature from the Gap to the Dome usually drops about 20 to 30 degrees, but that blistering July day, the heat seemed to actually rise. And after we reached the Dome parking lot, we became aware that there was another quarter-mile uphill walk to the Dome Observation Tower, and it seemed to be at a 45-degree angle!
Every time we went there, we always took several pictures on the way up, but very few on the way down—probably because we stopped more to rest on the way up, and scurried back quickly on the downhill trek. It was always fun to tease the groups headed to the Tower who were only a short distance from reaching it, by saying, “Hey, don’t give up, you’re about halfway there!” Many of them looked as if they would cry! And it was during one of my complaining moments that God decided to give me a “checkup from the neck up,” and a real life lesson.
We were about halfway up the trail, and boy, was I complaining. This was a National Park, so surely they had money to install some easier way to get up that hill! I couldn’t understand why they didn’t have a tram to shuttle people up and down this mountain. At least they could offer golf carts to fat people like me! I would be happy to pay for a ride to the top.
Then it was time for God’s lesson, and it came from behind us. Someone was laughing. No, two people were laughing, and they were laughing hysterically! What in the name of pinecones could be so funny on this mountain? Nothing about this experience was funny to me. And not only were they laughing, but they were also making all kinds of strange noises. There were squeaking sounds like wheels turning, and stomping sounds like a soldier marching in combat boots.
I turned around just in time to see a tall lanky country boy taking long strides, almost running up the path in a pair of cowboy boots—pushing a wheelchair, and laughing at his wife, who was having the ride of her life as they headed for the observation tower.
I heard him politely asking, “Excuse me sir. Excuse me ma’am. We’re coming through.” And she would laugh even harder.
I might add that she was no frail little thing, so his work was cut out for him, and he was loving every minute of it. She laughed, and he laughed, as they headed to the top of the world.
At first, everyone else on the path was shocked, but then they began to laugh and rejoice with that couple. I laughed a little, too, then looked for a hole to climb into and hide! How many people have heard me griping and complaining? I wondered. What do I really have to nitpick over? My wife is healthy and walking by my side.
Why wasn’t he complaining? It may have been because they were both too busy enjoying life to concern themselves with unimportant things. It may have been because they were too much in love with one another that day to have thought about anything else.
Maybe he got up every day, looked at her, and said, “Thank God you’re alive!” to which she responded, “Thank God that I have you!” and then they both laughed.
THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK DEVOTIONAL
Life Lesson on Clingmans Dome.
By Hal Steenson
April 12th, 2026
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8
Looking at those old vacation photographs, I was reminded of how hot it was that week, even in the Great Smoky Mountains. I was wearing shorts in that picture, and with my skinny legs, that was a rare occurrence! The photo showed some of us sitting on a concrete bench trying to catch our breath. We were on our way up the walkway that led to Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the Smokies.
From Gatlinburg, Tennessee, it was a 16-mile drive through the forest to Newfound Gap, and then another seven miles before we reached the Dome. The temperature from the Gap to the Dome usually drops about 20 to 30 degrees, but that blistering July day, the heat seemed to actually rise. And after we reached the Dome parking lot, we became aware that there was another quarter-mile uphill walk to the Dome Observation Tower, and it seemed to be at a 45-degree angle!
Every time we went there, we always took several pictures on the way up, but very few on the way down—probably because we stopped more to rest on the way up, and scurried back quickly on the downhill trek. It was always fun to tease the groups headed to the Tower who were only a short distance from reaching it, by saying, “Hey, don’t give up, you’re about halfway there!” Many of them looked as if they would cry! And it was during one of my complaining moments that God decided to give me a “checkup from the neck up,” and a real life lesson.
We were about halfway up the trail, and boy, was I complaining. This was a National Park, so surely they had money to install some easier way to get up that hill! I couldn’t understand why they didn’t have a tram to shuttle people up and down this mountain. At least they could offer golf carts to fat people like me! I would be happy to pay for a ride to the top.
Then it was time for God’s lesson, and it came from behind us. Someone was laughing. No, two people were laughing, and they were laughing hysterically! What in the name of pinecones could be so funny on this mountain? Nothing about this experience was funny to me. And not only were they laughing, but they were also making all kinds of strange noises. There were squeaking sounds like wheels turning, and stomping sounds like a soldier marching in combat boots.
I turned around just in time to see a tall lanky country boy taking long strides, almost running up the path in a pair of cowboy boots—pushing a wheelchair, and laughing at his wife, who was having the ride of her life as they headed for the observation tower.
I heard him politely asking, “Excuse me sir. Excuse me ma’am. We’re coming through.” And she would laugh even harder.
I might add that she was no frail little thing, so his work was cut out for him, and he was loving every minute of it. She laughed, and he laughed, as they headed to the top of the world.
At first, everyone else on the path was shocked, but then they began to laugh and rejoice with that couple. I laughed a little, too, then looked for a hole to climb into and hide! How many people have heard me griping and complaining? I wondered. What do I really have to nitpick over? My wife is healthy and walking by my side.
Why wasn’t he complaining? It may have been because they were both too busy enjoying life to concern themselves with unimportant things. It may have been because they were too much in love with one another that day to have thought about anything else.
Maybe he got up every day, looked at her, and said, “Thank God you’re alive!” to which she responded, “Thank God that I have you!” and then they both laughed.
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