I have always liked to explore. When I was a kid, I would spend hours walking in the woods and fields near our home. I would peer into little shady spots, and sit on fallen trees...just day-dreaming about life. Imagining... dreaming... making up stories in my head. Sometimes stories to write in future books - sometimes stories about myself. Because every kid is the hero in their own make-believe world.
One day last week I felt the need for some fresh air. You know how you feel after spending several days in the house without stepping outside? You don't? Well, anyways, it was one of those days...I was feeling 'stuffed up'. I needed to explore. So, I told the kids I'd be back soon, and off I went.
I found a well-used game trail. It was fun. Nothing is quite so fun as starting down a curious little path that you never walked before. You aren't sure just where it will take you, but you want to find out.
It wandered through the meadow, and down along Horse Creek.
I stopped frequently to watch a darting bird, and take pictures of the interesting tidbits of nature.
The birds were hard to photograph. And I didn't have the patience to sit and watch. I wanted to keep exploring.
Finding.
I was following a trail, and I wanted to see where it went.
So I kept going.
The path took me down beside the creek. It was pretty and quiet. The sound of softly running water - is there a sound more relaxing? And this is different than a water feature in the middle of town. This is nature, as God intended.
The quiet gurgle of water is all you hear. A whisper of cool breeze, perhaps, and an occasional call of a bird. Other than that - silence. You can think here. You can untangle your thoughts and talk to the Creator.
It can be done anywhere, it is true. But it is easier here.
Here where the grass is soft and the sky is blue.
And then it brought to my mind the verse in the Holy Scriptures where it talks about willows. You know how you can read a verse twenty times, and yes it's good, and yes, you like it - but one day it hits you, what God was trying to say?
This was one of those moments. Isaiah 44:3-4
"3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses."
That's a lot of willows. A lot!
Do you like to explore? What is your favorite way to relax and clear your head?
As you can see, I hadn't read your blog for a while, so I am catching up with comments. 🙂 I love to explore! These days I mostly do it with a two year old on my hip and a four year old clutching onto my clothes while we climb straight up the ridge. The older kids can handle themselves. We don't see much wildlife but we have fun until somebody walks through the sticker bushes. I don't explore very often, because it is too much work. But the best thing ever is to have a few hours to myself to hike in the blissful quiet. I love your photos. I can feel the peace.
Yes, my kids love to explore with me, too! But once in a while I want to wander around in the absolute quiet. 🙂 I am enjoying having a few kids old enough now to watch the babies while I'm gone!