God's Beauty

I love the outdoors. I love being outside in nature, away from the hustle and bustle of life. It calms me and reminds me what life is really about--living one day at a time as God wants us to live. When I was a little girl, I was constantly outside. Growing up on a farm with acreage gave me plenty of places to explore. I felt comfortable and alive when I was roaming my land. One of my favorite things to do was find a quiet place to read, such as the hay loft in the barn or next to a tree by the pond. Like most people, as I aged I spent less and less time outside because I had too many other things to do. I would periodically have the opportunity to do something outdoors, but not like when I was a child.

Since I have taken up the controversial activity of hunting, I have discovered something that amazes and delights me. I can immerse myself in the outdoors again. Each time I go out with Trey to hunt, I seize the opportunity to bask in the wondrous beauty of this world God blessed us with. I take in everything around me and look at as a child would--watch a flock of white pelicans gracefully and perfectly in time fly in circles over a lake, listen to fish jump out of the water to catch their breakfast, feel the cool breeze against my face as I feel my soul rejuvenating. Sure the game of waiting and waiting to spot whatever we are hunting can get a bit boring...if I let it. However, I choose to feed my soul by connecting to God and listening to Him as I soak up the beauty and wonder of the world around me. Maybe that's why I get excited when I spot a deer in the distance or an otter meandering from one lake to the next. At Trey's urging, I am having to learn to contain my excitement to avoid spooking the animals. He just shakes his head and laughs at me.

It's amazing how your perspective and attitude can shape how you experience life. When you open your mind to trying new things or when you choose to look at a situation or experience positively, it can completely change the outcome. For instance, as we searched the truck and retraced the morning hunt route for what seemed liked hours searching for missing muzzle gun primers, I happened to look up at the sky to see one of the most gorgeous sunsets I have ever seen. It was simply breath-taking, and I HAD to capture it on my camera. I hiked up the levee and did my best to do it justice with my cell phone camera. So, here it is along with a picture of a water lily I spotted while we checked out some deer tracks. Enjoy!!