"I believe that the heart of worship knows no boundaries. Any prayer
offered with sincere belief - however humble the surroundings or
circumstances - is joyously received by God
And yet there are places of worship, like this tranquil stone chapel I
came upon during a ramble in the Smoky Mountains, which must be especially
pleasing in God's sight. Prayer offered here will flow heavenward just as
surely as God's manifold blessings cascade to earth like 'streams of living
water.'
In this peaceful kingdom, all of nature gathers in praise of God's
glory. The stone walls of the chapel seem to grow out of the earth itself,
while the pristine waters of the stream cascade from an ineffable distance.
Deer, birds, rabbits, even a frog - creatures of earth, water, and sky -
gather in humble and silent witness to the unity and harmony of the
creation. Graceful trees shelter and shade this cloistered spot as a
curious squirrel observes the revelry from his perch upon a limb. And over
all, like a radiant umbrella, the glorious vault of the heavens unfolds
another glistening morning.
There are scenes in nature so graciously constructed, so sublime, that
they become, in essence, parables in wood and water and stone. The duty of
the artist is to witness with a loving heart and to record with a sure hand
and a truthful eye.
That is what I hope I have done in Streams of Living Water, a scene
where God allows us to glimpse His loving kindness."
