We all have a part to play

As I admire the beauty of the natural areas I keep seeing the impact humans are having on the world. The smoke stack looms high above the tree line. The black smoke rolls out and appears as a cloud ready to rain, but the puffs keep moving. And you can sure smell it. Getting stronger when the wind blows from the west, carrying it all over the city.

The houses along the lake remind me that people live here, in this wilderness, too. I come to see the natural wildlife that we are increasingly a part of, yet have less concern for than ever in history.

The rocks are cut to make way for humans. But did anyone ever stop to think about the home it took away from the animals?

And the trash. Its everywhere. Along the paths, under a tree, behind a rock. Everywhere I go there is always something that does not belong.

Each time I notice the human impact on the world I am reminded that I am a part of this too. And I have a part to play, for better or for worse. I know what Im going to do, do you?

Walks

Submerged in nature. 

Surrounded by the glory of god. 

Suspended in time. 

Refreshing for my spirit 

Nourishment for my mind 

Strength for my body 

Just around the riverbend....

A walk in one direction may lead you to another. 

You never know what is just around the riverbend....

                                                         one step after 

                                                                                  the other 

What will you find? 

You will never know unless you look and see with not just your eyes but with your heart. 

What you find may change your life. 

There is a beautiful world underneath the trash. 

If only we would stop and see it for what it is, lifting our gaze heavenwards. 

"What I love most about rivers is:

You can't step in the same river twice

The water's always changing, always flowing"

Adventures of the body, mind, and spirit

Each of our lives are meant to be lived! Adventures of the body. I love seeing the world from a new perspective and learning from everything around me. Exploring. It is challenging, fun and can be risky, but it always worth it! 

An afternoon of sunshine at Fletcher Moss Gardens with me, myself, and I

Rest. Relaxation. Reading. This is not something I am good at. An adventure of the mind. I would way rather be doing something "productive". In the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to stretch and learn to do nothing. It sounds easy...try it. I dare you!

Taking time to recharge and quiet yourself in the midst of life chaotic schedules and to do list's is not only important, it is vital. Its actually commanded: "Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work". This is not a hint to be lazy, but to know your limits and realize that you benefit from this rest.

Supermoon, 28 August 2015 

A day of rest, a Sabbath, is not a day that is solely for spiritual or religious purposes, however in many cultures it was and still is. Our lives are entirely designed to be spiritual, as we are spiritual beings created by a relational God who wants to know us and us to know Him. A part of this is to exercise our spirit, similar to physical or mental exercise. A Sabbath. Daily reflections. Prayers. Reading. Worship. An adventure of the spirit. 

I have learned this many times over, yet am no ways near perfect. There is always room for improvement. All that we do is a reflection of what we believe and choose to act upon. Choose to act with passion and hope. 

What a Wonderful World

I see trees of green

Red roses too

Squirrel!!!! 

opps...

I see them bloom 

For me and you 

I think to myself "what a wonderful world"

*listening to What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong while editing these photos

Can you see the forest through the trees?

When you look at the natural world what do you see? Beauty. Design. Complexity. Wonder. Strength. Or maybe it is just a bunch of trees and open sky?

Are you able to see all that is before your eyes? Or are you limited by the noise of the world? Every day we have the opportunity to see the natural world as a reflection of something greater, if we choose to do so. 

Take a moment today to stop your busy life and find joy in the natural world around you. You will find greater appreciation for the world we have been placed on and call home. There is so much to learn about the natural world, if only we knew where to look. 

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.   
His house is in the village though;   
He will not see me stopping here   
To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   
To stop without a farmhouse near   
Between the woods and frozen lake   
The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   
To ask if there is some mistake.   
The only other sound’s the sweep   
Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   
But I have promises to keep,

   
And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.

~Robert Frost 

Where the Rocks Are

Just a few days in to the study break and a few fellow students and I headed to Loch Lomond for a day of walking the trails and enjoying the fresh air. 

We began on the shore trail that led us around the loch to a few beaches, fields and alongside a hill. A quick stop was necissary for a few of the group to try their hand at skipping stones, all the while I was busy scavanging the beach for whatever caught my eyes. A short ways along and a set of boulders in the loch tempted a few to see how far out they could go, without falling in. 

The landscape was breathtaking, but my eyes didnt move far from the ground, observing the everchanging landscape at its core (a mix of sandstones, conglomerates, and shales). 

We visited an island on the loch, eager to explore the history preserved within. The particular island we visited was home to a farm and church. All that remains now is a few stones in place of where the buildings once lied and the gravestones of the people who once lived on the land. 

A breathtaking view was in store at the highest point of the island before we started back. Take a look around and you immediately see the beautiful nature that is well used by many other visitors. The rolling hills in the distance, hid behind clouds, are a mystery for another day and from the highest point on our walk we could see just how huge the loch is.  

I have been blessed by the friends I have met while studying in Glasgow and I am thankful for the time we are able to share exploring the countryside. This wouldnt be possible without the people who dedicate their lives to maintaining this area for us to use as we wish and providing generous information about the area. 

Discovering Glasgow

The city I saw from the plane is now coming to life as I explore and discover its wonders. I still cant grasp just how big it is! (compared to small-town Chester and Halifax) 

To get around I have been walking, which can be tiring, but it allows me to navigate (and see) the city a lot better than with public transportation (I know where I am, where I'm going, and where I came from!). 

The Clyde (and Kelvin) river is a central part to the city and is a great navigational aid. I have discovered a walking path that takes me from residence to the city, close to campus, in about an hour. It is a beautiful walk with sounds of the birds chirping and the river flowing alongside. 

The end point to the walk is the Botanic Gardens where many plants, trees, and flowers are kept and displayed from around the world. 

If you are looking for people the best place to go is the city center where the shops are! Whether its for food, clothes, gadgets, or just about anything else the streets always seem to be crowed with people shopping. 

Other common spaces are the museums, mostly along the Clyde. My first stop was the Tall Ship, Glenlee. A ship with a lot of history (survived 4 circumnavigations, many rough seas, wear-and-tear as a training vessel, and finally abandonment) has finally come to rest alongside the Riverside Museum of transport. 

With all of the sights in and around the city there are still lots of places to be discovered!