And God Created Egrets

On one of our trips to Lake Erie, we stopped by the Port Clinton Lighthouse. 

We walked along the beach and searched for lake glass,

 then sat on a bench and watched the waves.

We were preparing to leave when I turned and 

looked toward the two ponds that sit in front of the lighthouse. 

A speck of white caught my attention. 

As I moved closer to the water, an egret stood. 

What a beauty. I am partial to these remarkable birds, with their graceful movements. 

As with any of God's creation, I love to watch them and learn their ways. 

Fun fact: they build their stick nests near the water, but high in the trees. 

Fortunately, this bird was photogenic!  

Welcome Autumn!

Unfurl Your Wings

Olive and I were walking outside, 

and this lovely monarch landed on a zinnia in my garden. 

I love when God sends me a sign of beauty in my every day life. 

Click to Tweet #unfurlyourwings! 

Can we Have a Happy Place?

Job 12:7-10
"But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.
Which of all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In his hand is the life of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind."

When was the last time you...

• stopped to watch a monarch sip nectar from an azalea? 
• spotted a yellow finch twitter about the purple thistle as it seeks out food? 
• dipped your toes into the waves that carry in shells and sand?
• rested in the shade of the maple or oak and enjoyed the comfort of the breeze?
• gazed at the stars as they twinkled in the sky?
• listened to the robin trill his song?

Every walk in the woods, hike up a trail, and visit to a beach shows me Jehovah— God the Creator of all things. Even the television shows and books that explain "how things work" in nature amaze and humble me before God.

Why? Because nature is my "happy place." Please don't take the term "happy place" lightly. In all serious, I love that I have a relationship with God that's enriched by his creation. A place where I commune with my Lord and Savior without the noise of this crazy world. The natural world he made with his hands reminds me of God's wisdom, and grace, but most of all his love.

Maybe your personal bond with God comes through music, or working outside. Maybe it's writing or playing with children. Maybe you sit in a quiet place and reflect. If you haven't found your connection, begin with prayer. Talk to God—ask him to show you your place of peace and joy. Read the Bible. Seek out God's wisdom in his word.

God created each of us to be in relationship with him. Because he loves us.

A Thousand Mornings

I believe that each person experiences God in different ways. I’m most connected to God when I’m walking the dogs by the lake or working in my flower bed. Experiencing nature draws me closer to my Lord. I love the beauty he’s created for our world. A colorful sunset and soft fallen snow bring joy to my heart. And the animals, they are so incredible. Whether a giraffe at the zoo, a squirrel in the park, or cute baby goats, I love seeing God’s handiwork. I also relate to God through poetry. I write poems from time to time and I read poetry, particularly poems that feature the natural world and everyday circumstances of life.

My most recent poetic read is A Thousand Mornings: Poems by Mary Oliver.  In A Thousand Mornings, Mary surrounds herself with nature and the unexpected pleasure of the everyday. In the morning, she grabs her notebook and pencil and delves into the world with her poetic eye and mind. From lamenting the short life of the Luna moth to remembering the delight and sometimes bruises from tree-climbing, Mary captures an almost magical insight into the world that surrounds her. This slim volume of poetry both delights and intrigues.

A native of Ohio, Mary Oliver published her first book of poetry in 1963. Her fourth book, American Primitive, won the Pulitzer for poetry in 1984. She’s spent many years writing and teaching poetry. Much of her inspiration comes from her home in Provincetown, Massachusetts. 

I also enjoy Robert Frost and Ted Kooser. Both poets write about the every day and the natural world.