Have You Missed the Spring?

Interesting Fact: Noah Ogle had running water in his cabin.

Noah “Bud” Ogle and his wife Cindy first settled in what is now Gatlinburg in 1879. On their 400 acre farm they built the cabin that still stands near downtown Gatlinburg. Located near the start of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, the Ogle cabin gives a glimpse of what pioneer life was like in the Appalachian Mountains.

The Ogle cabin also had a very unique feature for the time... running water. A wooden plume ran from the spring near the cabin down to the back porch. Once there, the water poured into a double sink, made from a large log.

Now, here is where it get embarrassing for me. I have been visiting and photographing this cabin for decades, yet it wasn't until this last trip that I even saw (and paid attention to) the spring at the top of the hill above the cabin and just below the roadbed. In fact, water is still flowing from that spring to this day. I'm pretty certain that the CCC or NPS built the stone structure around the spring to protect it since Cherokee Orchard Road travels right over it.

The question then becomes, "How in the world have I missed it for so long?" I think the answer is more obvious than I realized at first. Are you ready for this??? -- I wasn't looking for it. Yes, I did not know to look for a spring that once provided running water to the Ogle cabin since there is a creek running right in front of the cabin, but now I look at the area dynamics and consider what a brilliant and sensible idea that was.

I know you're waiting for the spiritual application, so here it is: Most people are missing out on the rich blessings of God because we aren't looking for them. We take so much for granted every day, not even realizing or acknowledging that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above." (James 1:7)

But the greatest gift of all to mankind is eternal life through Jesus, God's Son.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Yes, people hear the name of Jesus almost every day in one form or another, yet the majority never seek Him out. Whereas your sinful life can only lead to death and separation from God, Jesus offers the free gift of eternal life (in both quality and quantity).

Jesus IS that spring that flows into you if you let Him. He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well and said, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." (John 4:10)

Isn't it time you sought out Jesus and asked Him for a drink of living water? Stop searching for the next great thing that you THINK will satisfy. Receive Jesus Christ today and you will never thirst again -- you WILL be satisfied.

Noah "Bud" Ogle Spring
Cherokee Orchard Road
Great Smoky Mountains