Nature

Summer is the best time for outdoor nature centered activities as the weather, length of light in each day, and overall joy encompassing this season ignites a sense of adventure lost for most of us who recently finished a harsh and cold winter huddled inside.

After a short but evident season of spring and the newness it brings, it is now time to enjoy, immerse ourselves in, and learn from the nature that surrounds us and the beauty of the world we are blessed to experience. I, myself, will be doing my annual trip to BWCA to immerse myself in a nature centered experience away from the clutter, chatter, and tech centered days I have grown accustomed and almost dependent upon.

We have endless opportunities to learn from God and immersing ourselves in the beauty of the world he created is one of the best and most spiritually awakening experiences one can have if they realize the opportunity at the forefront of their time. Finding purpose in the plants, animals, and overall nature of our community brings a renewed sense of gratitude, calmness, and stillness in the spirit, and I encourage everyone to take a moment this summer to experience this.

If you take a step back, a deep breathe in, and open your eyes to real greatness, you will witness the strength, beauty, and connection that nature offers us each and every day. The world reminds us that there is something holding it, and us all, together. This something is divine, its gracious, and it is powerful. We can recognize this power in the rushing strength of a river. We can see faithfulness in the return of seasons year after year. And we can see love and harmony displayed beautifully in the parts of the ecosystem that interact.

I encourage you to find “purpose in the plants”. See the gentleness in the breeze. Feel the spirit in the sun rays. Get out and enjoy the beauty of our garden. The one God made for us. The one we get to call home.