Going on a Nature Walk
Julia Bettencourt
“O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast
thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” Psalms 104:24
Have you ever been on a nature walk? I love walking through the park trails in the woods, which I haven’t done in several years, but it’s always so beautiful when you get out there among all that lovely nature that God created. I love especially getting out there during the fall and letting those leaves crunch under my feet and feel that cold air hit my face.
Here are few things we might find along the trail that we can learn from.
- Brown Leaf.
When you pick up a brown leaf, it usually just crunches and falls apart if you handle it too much. Why? Because it is dead. There’s no life in it.As Christians, we were all dead in sin before we met Christ. By accepting Him, we have that color and life added to us. It’s not just a temporal life, but eternal.“And you hath he quickened, who
were dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1 - Red Leaf
Those red leaves in the fall are so pretty. I can remember places when we’d travel in Tennessee where all you could see for miles in the fall were lines of trees with those beautiful red colors and tints to them. It was stunning.Do you have a red letter edition of the Bible? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s one that everything that Jesus said is in red ink. I think sometimes it’s good to travel through those “red” passages and see all the beauty there. Christ said some wonderful things for us to ponder. What about those parables? Every time I read through one of those, it seems like I see and learn something new or notice something I never noticed before.“Heaven and earth shall pass away:
but my words shall not pass away.” Luke 21:33 - Yellow Leaf
I love all those yellow and golden leaves. None of those leaves start out with those pretty fall colors. They start out green. Getting to the red, orange, yellow, and gold colors is a process.Getting to that gold in us is a process too. Sometimes the Lord has to bring us through some trying things in our lives to get us there.“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath
tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 - Feather
We know that feathers are light and soft to the touch. That is why they have been used inside of pillows for years. It is because they are soft and comforting to our heads.I’m so glad that I have the Lord to lean against for comfort and strength. He comforts me and loves me with that soft touch.“He shall cover thee with his feathers,
and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth
shall be thy shield and buckler.” Psalms 91:4 - Pinecone
I’m pretty fond of pinecones and I like having them in the house, especially around the holidays. I guess because they kind of bring the outdoors in with them.Have you ever just grabbed and picked up a pinecone though? They can be a little pokey and prickly. I guess sometimes I can be a little prickly too in what I do or say, but I know Christ doesn’t want me to be that way.“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger,
and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from
you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God
for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32