Little white specks

Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw snow, gently falling to the ground.

A few seconds later I see it again. This time is was clear that indeed there was snow falling!

It was a cloudy morning, Honey and I were dressed warmly for our walk. As we set off along the train we enjoyed the beautiful snow as it fell. It seemed to dance in the blowing wind then gently fall to the ground where it disappeared.

At the lookout we watched the clouds move across the sky. Black and low, yet the sun still poked through in places.

We stopped to enjoy this moment, as everything around us seemed to be absorbed by the first snowfall of the year.

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 

Music in the air

We started out on what we thought would be a nice short walk. It quickly turned into a trek that lasted over two hours. About half way we stopped to rest and appreciate what we could see and hear, admiring the landscape and all critters that were moving about. We were on Lake Laurentian with the sun setting, a perfect scene. A mosquito lands on me to find its meal and all else is silent.

As I look around I see the white flowers blow in the wind. Then, out of nowhere the geese take flight, squawking as they hurried over the marsh. Lucky for me, I had my camera out and capture the whole ordeal a it unraveled before my eyes.

With the lake in the distance, the clouds gently laying above us, and a forest surrounding us we found a quiet place. There was a smell, something beautiful but I coundn't trace it. We keep walking as we still had quite a ways to go. The the moon had risen and the wind made music with the leaves. This is a quiet place, a sacred space. One that will never be the same, yet will always be there.

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. 

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.