When my wife and I travel, one of the things we enjoy most is learning about places we have never been before. That includes learning to identify and reading about fish, birds, plants and animals we see on our trips.
This is a Florida gar, which we saw in the Everglades. It can be found in fresh waters in Georgia and Florida, often in shallow waters. It has an air bladder which helps them survive in poorly oxygenated water.
God has given us such amazing gifts in the world we live in.
This is a view from the Shark Valley lookout tower in the Everglades. Shark Valley is named for two of its estuaries, the Shark River and Little Shark River, home to several shark species.
This is not what I expected the Everglades to look like. I picture waist-deep water and thick trees. But the Everglades could be thought of as a massive river of grass (covering over 2 million acres), with a combination of sawgrass marshes, freshwater ponds, prairies and tree islands. Water flowing through the Everglades filters down into the Biscayne Aquifer, which supplies the drinking water for eight million South Floridians.
Water, all around you, slowly flowing. What a wonderful metaphor for the Holy Spirit – all around, moving in ways that we often don’t even perceive.
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord; the Lord will be their trust. They are like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It does not fear heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still produces fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8
(Photo: Carriage trail bridge over New Duck Brook, Acadia NP)
A Greek philosopher once said that “you cannot step into the same river twice.” That seems to be an apt thought at the end of the calendar year. We will not experience anything exactly the same as we did this past year.
I picked this photo of the sunset for my last reflection of the year. Just as evening is a good time to reflect of the day, this is a good time to reflect on the past year. Where have you encountered God during the year?
(Photo: Little Missouri River, Theodore Roosevelt NP)
This is the Virgin River, in Zion NP. It is not easily seen in the photo, but the Parus Trail can be seen beside the river. While I stand here admiring this view, it is likely someone on the trail below is also enjoying their view, though it is very different from mine. Different even though we are not so far apart. A vivid reminder of how we each experience the same situation so differently.
This is the Lower Waterfall in Hocking Hills. We visited there at the end of last December. I think the picture is somewhat deceiving because it doesn’t look a bit like winter to me. I suppose all of the trees in the photo are evergreens. It was not a very cold day, in the 40s as I recall. But I was not remotely tempted to get into this water, as inviting as it appears.
It is often said that looks can be deceiving. An important principle to remember when trying to make decisions about our future. People are not always as happy as they look. Struggles can be very rewarding. Point A to Point B is not always a straight line.
This is a photo of the Oxbow Overlook in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. An oxbow is an U-shaped bend in a river or a curved lake left as a remnant when the loop gets cut off from the narrow part of the bend. The Little Missouri River actually does a double bend here, with the river doing a complete 270 degree turn within the width of this photo.
I have been reflecting this past week on how it’s hard to know where life’s twists and turns are taking us. I heard a recent podcast that talked about the mistake of committing to a decision and being unwilling to change course, even when events make it clear a change of course is needed. Although many of the examples were from the corporate world, it applies as much (or more) to our personal decisions.
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be always in my mouth. My soul will glory in the Lord; let the poor hear and be glad. Magnify the Lord with me; and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, delivered me from all my fears. Look to him and be radiant, and your faces may not blush for shame. This poor one cried out and the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he saves them. Psalms 34:2-8
(Photo: Wind Canyon, Theodore Roosevelt NP)
This is the Wind Canyon in Theodore Roosevelt NP. It is near the Little Missouri River, but was actually formed by erosion from wind and rain rather than the river. This makes me think of how God appeared to Elijah (1 Kings 19:11-12) – not in the strong and violent wind (or earthquake, or fire) but in a light silent sound.
We often expect to see God in large and dramatic ways. Seeing God in all things also means looking for God in the small and common things that we encounter.
This photo was taken during the Maah Daah Hey Trail run in July. It was hot – very hot. As you can see, there were a few trees but almost none provide shade for the trail. This lake was just over 8 miles into the run. Combine this with the fact that the first aid station was not until after mile 10 and you can understand why I was longing for cool water.
As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. Psalms 42:2-3
Signs Along the Way 