Living with ALS: The Healing Waters of Lake Cumberland

 

After six years away, returning to Lake Cumberland felt like stepping back into a cherished memory that had been waiting patiently for my return. The moment I saw the familiar shoreline, something deep within me stirred—a mix of nostalgia, gratitude, and quiet reflection. Time had passed, life had changed, and yet the lake remained a steadfast friend, as peaceful and beautiful as ever. The rolling hills still embraced the water with their deep greens and rocky outcrops. It was a welcoming and wonderful sight.

So much life had happened in the years since my last visit—seasons of hardship, growth, and grace. Coming back wasn’t just about enjoying the view; it was about reconnecting with a piece of my soul that had gone untouched for too long. Sure, the houseboat is gone, and the ski boat is gone, but the memories of those times remain. The dock where we used to have the houseboat and where Carol and I used to sit and laugh, but the memories it held were larger than life. I could almost hear the echoes of old conversations and the splashes of kids jumping into a cove without a care in the world.

I can no longer do the things I used to do at the lake, like water skiing, driving the ski boat, or parking the houseboat in a cove and entertaining friends. I can no longer get on the dock in my wheelchair because of the steep terrain, and can no longer take boat rides. I do miss those things, but I have been blessed to have experienced them, and the memories came flooding back! Reconnecting with old friends made it priceless (sorry, Mastercard)!

What struck me most was how healing it felt to be back. The quiet mornings viewing the water, the stillness of sunrise reflecting off the surface, although I wasn’t awake to see it—all of it slowed my heart and brought clarity to my mind. It reminded me how important it is to make space for rest, for beauty, and for places that anchor us to who we are. Lake Cumberland has always been that place for me.

Being there again, surrounded by the people I love and the memories we've built, I realized how far I've come and how grateful I am to still be here to see it all. The lake didn’t need to change—it just needed me to return with new eyes, a fuller heart, and a deeper appreciation for the gift of being present. Some places don’t just hold memories. They help you heal. Lake Cumberland did that for me all over again. The healing waters of Lake Cumberland!

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