Have you ever found yourself sitting around a campfire sharing stories of favorite trips, first trips or even worst trips? Those intense experiences that bonded you to people and taught you endurance and courage?

The Story Starts Like This: 

“It was a dark and stormy night…” 

“The fish was thiiiiis big!” 

“It was the best sunset I’ve ever seen…” 

“I was sooo sore after that portage, but it felt so good to challenge myself!” 

“I never imagined the view from the summit would be that stunning.” 

“Do you remember that time when…?”

“That was the coldest night of my life!”

The Joy of Remembering

I was thinking about how fun it is to tell adventure stories, but also how deeply meaningful it can be.

I am blessed to know many people who love the outdoors and who love Jesus.

For me personally, my love of nature is intertwined with my faith in a way that can’t be separated. When I’m telling or listening to stories of outdoor adventures, most are also stories of faith from me and people around me. 

It reminds me so much of the great cloud of witnesses!

Hebrews 12:1 says: “Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”

Sometimes it’s like I can feel others that have gone before me encouraging me to keep going. To keep learning how to love Jesus better every day. And those stories of the faith journeys of others help me feel empowered. I can find the energy to keep on keeping on even when I’m discouraged.

Similarly there have been times when I’ve been doing a tough hike or portage and have reminded myself of the people who walked the trail before me, carrying the same weight. That encouraged me that my task is possible and worth completing.

The Cloud of Witnesses 

Hebrews 12 also reminds me that we all have people we’ve looked up to who were beloved mentors or leaders. Some of those people have since passed away.

I’ve sat around campfire circles where we’ve told stories of the great adventures of the people who have died. We’ve remembered their senses of humor, their skill sets and their character in the face of challenges.

Not only does the retelling keep their wisdom and memory alive, it allows us to grieve and to celebrate their life.

This is such an important part of our faith. We know our hope is in Jesus and in a salvation that allows us to rejoice as we grieve.

Remembering our Heroes 

As I was thinking about this idea of telling stories, I kept thinking about how the Bible retells stories of the heroes of the faith—just as we do for our personal heroes and people we love.

Hebrews 11 is a perfect example of this. It goes through a list of individuals considered to have been faithful and the great things they did.

Storytelling through History 

This also makes sense in the context of the culture. Many ancient cultures had oral traditions where the history of the people was passed on through stories from each generation to the next.

We don’t just see this in the Bible. Homer wrote an epic called The Odyssey about a man named Odysseus and his journeys. Much of it involves the elements of nature and survival.

Here’s an excerpt that talks about nature. It reminds me of stories of friends who describe their experience being in the Boundary Waters during an intense storm nicknamed The Blowdown: 

“…churned the waves into chaos, whipping all the gales from every quarter, shrouding over in thunderheads the earth and sea at once—and night swept down from the sky— East and South Winds clashed and the raging West and North, sprung from the heavens, roiled heaving breakers up—and Odysseus’ knees quaked, his spirit too…”

This writing was meant to be recited or sung, and was designed for people to hear it. 

History shows that the ancient Israelites had an oral tradition as well. They would have passed on lessons, histories and faith through that oral tradition.

While histories were also recorded in writing simultaneously, I think this shows that some stories are meant to be told.

Tell your Story 

I think that this is true, even today.

Revelation 12:11 says, “They overcame him because of the blood of the lamb and because of the word of their testimony”.

The testimonies that we have are a gift. They have strength within them.

The stories we tell show the character of God. They can encourage someone going through a similar situation. Or they can provide a different perspective resulting in a solution to a problem!

They remind us of all the wonderful ways God has continued to be good through our lives and the lives of those who went before us.

Just like our outdoors stories can be testimonies of God’s character and presence, they can also carry wisdom and beauty and encouragement.

As you think about this in your life, where do you have a story that needs to be told? Who are your heroes of faith in your personal life and testimony? 

Works Cited: Homer. (1919). The Odyssey. London : New York :W. Heinemann; G.P. Putnam’s sons; Robert D. Miller II, « Orality and Performance in Ancient Israel », Revue des sciences religieuses [En ligne], 86/2 | 2012, mis en ligne le 15 avril 2014, consulté le 06 août 2024. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/rsr/1467 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/rsr.1467

Here’s more…

• Hearing God in Our Outdoor Adventures
• Build Christian Community through Outdoor Adventure
• Find Your Way to “Hidden” Beauty

The post It’s a Joy to Remember Our Outdoor Adventures first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

Hannah Hurnard’s book Mountain of Spices pairs a plant with each of the Fruits of the Spirit. Here, I connect those plants and our love of the outdoors with our faith journeys.

[There’s no other connection to Hannah Hurnard’s book than using the plants she assigned to the Fruits of the Spirit. Everything else is unique to this post. So if you’re curious about her perspective, I recommend reading Mountains of Spices and her precursor book Hinds Feet on High Places!]

Love: Pomegranate

Pomegranate is a fruit that grows in warmer climates. It’s juicy and sweet.

A distinctive aspect of pomegranate is that inside are hundreds of little pods of fruit that each have a seed. This means when the fruit is opened it can quickly disperse the seeds.

I think this is how we’re supposed to think of the Love of God—full of goodness and easy to disperse throughout our lives.

When we walk in the love of God through thought, word and deed, we pray it plants love inside the recipient so they can pass it on too.

In this way, the Fruit of Love can be contagious and cause a ripple effect much farther than we can see.

Matthew 25:14-30 tells the parable of the wealthy boss who gives money to three servants to invest. The ones who do invest come back having made a profit. The one who does not use his gift has nothing to show.

When we use our giftings to show love to people around us, we’re being good stewards of our strengths and abilities.

In this way, when we give away “seeds” of love throughout our lives by showing love to others, we may not see the “investment” but we know it’s there and we’ve been the hands and feet of Jesus.

Everyone has a different way of doing this in the world. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can do this with your unique giftings in a way that’s life-giving to you and others around you!

Take a moment to reflect and ask the Holy Spirit how this could look in your life, with your current circumstances and capacity.

Are you surprised by what comes to mind? 

Joy: Camphire

Camphire, also known as mignonette, Egyptian privet and reseda, has one of the most fragrant flowers on the planet. People use it to make a distinctive yellow dye known as henna.

Joy can permeate a room or a situation, just like a fragrant flower.

And joyful people are often recognizable by their countenance and demeanor. Just as someone who has their hands or beard dyed a distinctive yellow, it’s a noticeable change.

Joy produces a visible change in our lives.

This doesn’t mean we’re happy all the time. But through all our range of emotions, we’re anchored in the knowledge of God.

Joy is one of the things that keeps us grounded as we allow ourselves to feel the full range of emotion God made us to have—including negative emotion.

Joy allows us to enter a situation and be an agent of change to add God’s perspective.

Take stock of what emotions have been most prominent for you in this season of your life. Whether positive or negative, take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to show you where Joy changes the picture. Or where it can change you within the picture. 

Peace: Spikenard 

Another name for Spikenard is nardostachys jatamansi. It also refers to the oil people get from its root. It’s a medicinal plant.

The Anishinabe tribe made tea from the root to assist in healing coughs. This is especially interesting to me as the Anishinabe are indigenous to the region of Minnesota where I live.

Other tribes across North America also used this plant as an antidote to poison in the blood, topically for boils, mastitis, sores or inflammation.

[I found a fascinating article with these details and more, and recommend it to anyone interested in herbal medicine and its historical indigenous roots.]

Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.” Someone who’s willing to speak for peace can bring a lot of healing to people and to situations.

As a nurse, the parallel between a plant that reduces inflammation and the idea of peace reducing relational “inflammation” is very inspiring!

1 Peter 3:8 exhorts followers of Christ to “be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous.” That’s why those who walk in peace are known as children of God. Because they bring people together the way Jesus did by prioritizing peace. And in that, they bring healing, just like spikenard brings healing.

What does bringing peace to the world around you mean to you? 

Patience: Saffron

Saffron is a spice collected from a flower in the crocus family. This spice is fragrant—a little bit goes a long way—and is considered highly valuable.

Saffron is a labor intensive crop. A lot of work produces a small amount of spice.

This is true of what it feels like to have patience.

In the moment, it takes a lot of work to build the skill of patience in our lives! It’s a skill that cannot be mastered in a day, but requires slow work to build bit by bit.

But when we put in the work to build this skill, it’s so valuable!

Patience can help give our hearts and minds the space they need to listen for Wisdom to speak.

Just like a little bit of saffron in rice can make it look and taste completely different, having the patience to wait for God to lead can bring an entirely different outcome to a circumstance than just rushing into it without first checking in with our discernment and the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.”

When we practice patience and wait on the Lord, we can know that God’s response is to strengthen us.

When you think of patience, what circumstances do you think would benefit from listening to the quiet voice that suggests waiting on the Lord?

Kindness: Myrrh

Myrrh is a resin collected from the bark of the commiphora class of trees. It has many culinary, beauty and medicinal uses. People even use it to embalm the dead.

Myrrh was one of the three gifts the Magi brought to Jesus in the New Testament.

Of all of the different medicinal uses for myrrh, I found it of note that Myrrh can be used to treat leprosy.

In ancient times, leprosy was both feared and reviled. It was one of the diseases that caused people to have to live in isolation. To be rejected by their friends, their families and their faith communities.

A diagnosis of leprosy carried a high stigma with it of that person being “unclean” and unable to come before the presence of God at the temple.

Kindness is like myrrh spiritually.

Kindness brings people out of isolation and loneliness, even if they have something about them others consider awkward or controversial. Especially if they have something about them that the world or religion says stands between them and God and community.

Romans 8:37-39 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  

Even if we don’t agree with people, we can still offer them kindness and find common ground to move forward in sharing the love of Christ.

Reflect on this either with yourself or with others.

What are things you’ve heard that are like modern day versions of leprosy? Where can kindness help bring people out of isolation?

As I was writing this and reflecting on it, the one the Holy Spirit brought to mind for me is individuals experiencing homelessness. 

Gentleness: Calamus 

Calamus is also known as sweet flag. It’s called this because its leaves give off a sweet fragrance when they’re torn or broken.

A potent medicinal plant, indigenous tribes used it in ceremonies, for medicine and as a valuable supply for trading.

When I think of these areas in our world today—relationships, healing, and exchanging goods and services—the fruit of Gentleness would be beneficial in all of those areas.

As someone who works in healthcare, I’ve seen how gentleness can bring healing.

Oftentimes, expressing gentleness to someone means making space for their pain. Being willing to hold it with them in that moment rather than putting up walls and being brusque or harsh.

Being gentle in moments of pain and weakness allows for trust to be built. In gentleness, we can have strength for those who need extra support in that season.

Gentleness and strength do not contradict each other, but rather amplify each other.

This combination of softness and strength that’s expressed through gentleness is one of the things that can truly differentiate someone who follows Christ from someone who doesn’t.

In moments of intensity and pain you have something to offer that others don’t.

John 13:35 says, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” How can you infuse your life with gentleness? 

Goodness: Cinnamon

My first thought of cinnamon is how good it smells!

Waking up every year on Christmas morning, the house would be full of the smell of cinnamon. It was our family’s Christmas breakfast tradition to make bear claws with a cinnamon filling.

This spice is popular because of its sweet flavor and scent.

When I think of goodness, I think of home. Of tables full of laughter and light spilling out of windows welcoming you in to join the family.

The Bible describes the group of people who follow Christ as a family, calling us brothers and sisters.

Hebrew 10:19 says, “And now we are brothers and sisters in God’s family because of the blood of Jesus, and He welcomes us to come into the most holy sanctuary in the heavenly realm—boldly and without hesitation.”

The story of the prodigal son describes a son being welcomed into his family. And Psalm 68:6 says, “God settles the solitary in a home…”

Where has God provided home for you? Where can you provide the goodness of home for others? 

Faithfulness: Frankincense 

Frankincense is an aromatic resin that comes from the boswellia tree. Another one of the items gifted to Jesus by the magi.

In my research, one of the first articles I read was an article on how frankincense has anti-tumor properties.

That got me thinking about the opposite of faithfulness: unfaithfulness, acting disloyal or false.

Betrayal and corruption can be like a cancer within a relationship or community. So many people report walking away from their faith because of church hurt and feeling betrayed when someone preached good but perpetrated harm. Relationships can feel irreparably damaged after they’re tinged with deceit.

That’s why faithfulness is so important.

Building this character aspect within us allows us to be the same people in public as we are when no one else is around. Jesus was someone who spoke truth and lived it. We want to emulate that.

Where have you felt hurt by others acting unfaithfully towards you?

Take time to sit with the Holy Spirit and ask to see in that memory where God was walking with you through that experience. There may be an opportunity for healing or forgiveness, or to start that journey. 

Have you been unfaithful towards others? Take time to work that through with the Lord and those people, too!

Self Control: Aloe 

Aloe is a plant I’m familiar with as someone who loves spending time outdoors.

I grew up putting aloe on my sunburns after a long day at the beach. So when I think of aloe, I think of something that soothes.

Self-control can soothe as well. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft word turns away wrath.”

And in the same way aloe can soothe someone in pain, knowing when to speak and how to lean on the Holy Spirit for what to say can bring calm and healing to interpersonal situations that may be tense or inflamed.

Just like a sunburn may cause someone to feel pain, people can feel relationally “burned”. Self control can help start the journey of reconciliation.

What examples in your life can you think of where self control acted like a soothing agent within an irritated situation?

Are there any areas where you want more self control? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you act with more self control when those moments arise. 

Download a printable PDF of this blog to take with you on your trip!

Here’s more…

• 5 Devotionals for Your Outdoor Adventure Trip
• Lessons from the Pearl
• How God Speaks through Signs in the Heavens

The post 9 Free Devotionals for Your Next Camping Trip first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

Parallels of God’s Character 

There are so many places in the world and in life where God’s character is represented.

I love when God’s character represented in the natural world parallels something that’s true about our faith walk as well.

To me this points to God being steadfast and unchanging. That we would find these similarities consistent across so many diverse areas of the world.

One of the aspects of nature I admire is how mollusks take irritations and turn them into pearls.

People have viewed pearls as valuable resource since Jesus walked the earth. That’s evident in the ways the Bible references pearls. The parable of The Pearl of Great Price uses the metaphor to communicate this.

Johannes Vermeer’s famous painting Girl With A Pearl Earring shows how they continue to be considered valuable and symbols of beauty throughout history. 

Let’s take a deeper look at ways pearls can teach us about our faith walk. We’ll see a couple places where the Bible mentions them.

Let your Light Shine 

A beautiful aspect of pearls is that they reflect light.

They amplify the light and bring a luminous quality to the air around them.

They interact with the light.

The light reveals unique qualities about their colors and the dynamic layers that lie within them.

Similarly, the Bible teaches that we as Christians are to amplify the light of Christ that lives within us and share it with the world around us.

We can let the love of Jesus bring out our unique giftings to demonstrate how diverse God’s gifts to the world are through us! 

Adaptation to Life 

Pearls take something irritating and turn it into something enduring and beautiful.

Pearls are formed when a piece of sand, food or parasite is covered by layers of the pearlescent material nacre. It’s made of a calcium-based chemical called aragonite. Pearls act as a protective mechanism so mollusks can continue to function the way they were made to function.

In a similar way, we can use the grace God gives us to respond to difficult situations so He can transform them into something beautiful.

This doesn’t mean we have to show up as “perfect” or think that “reflecting light” means to always be cheerful!

There are things in life that are HARD. We don’t have to make them look easy.

As Christians we will not always respond perfectly to situations where there’s pain or irritation. There’s grace to be human and to be imperfect.

However, we can know with certainty that when we’re experiencing something irritating or painful that God is with us. We can ask for the presence of God to be near us and cover us, like the pearlescent material covers the irritation. Then we can have the spiritual resources we need to continue through that situation.

And when we look back at how the unique contours of that season are reflected in our testimony, we’ll see them reflecting back the goodness of God that covered all of it.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made 

What some might consider imperfections, we consider diversity and individuality.

Every pearl is different and is formed by the mollusk in which it lives.

We are all unique in how God made us—our talents and our personalities. So when we allow ourselves to be formed by Christ, we will all reflect the goodness of God in different ways—just like pearls come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. 

The Parable of The Pearl of Great Price 

In the Bible in Matthew 13:45-46, Jesus talks about pearls in a parable. He talks of a man who sells everything he owns to buy a valuable and rare pearl.

It says, “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls, who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” 

In this story we see there’s one specific “pearl” that’s more valuable than others. That’s worth investing in.

A life of following Jesus is worth investing in. Our faith practice has beauty and value that will continue to be a worthwhile investment. It will continue to grow in value for as long as we pursue it. 

The Gates of Heaven

The Bible also mentions pearls in Revelation 21:21, saying they’re what the Gates of Heaven are made of.

I thought this was interesting because I believe there’s purpose to the many metaphors in the Bible and symbolism in the physical things that carry spiritual meaning.

I found a commentary on this verse I thought was worth including. The author Roger W. Lowther writes this:

“It’s fascinating, then, that pearls—formed from brokenness and suffering—symbolize the perfection of the kingdom of heaven, for no one can enter its celestial city without first walking through its ‘pearly gates.’ ”

The commentary goes on to talk about how this metaphor points to us walking with God through our lives regardless of the season, and the way this points to the grace of God in the gospel story.

[Read the rest of Mr. Lowther’s article about pearls here.]

As you look around your world today, where can you ask God to cover situations with grace, like mollusks cover irritations with nacre?

How can you ask people to help you in this?

I think sometimes God wants to use faith communities to be nacre for each other—applying strength where we would not find it on our own.

How can you pursue and invest in your relationship with God like the merchant pursuing and purchasing The Pearl of Great Price? 

(Sources referenced for this article: Smithsonianmag.com, mtw.org)

Here’s more…

• Daily Bread: Our Enjoyment of the Outdoors • Our Enjoyment of God
• Hearing God Speak in the Outdoors
• How to Use a Daily Devotional

The post What Valuable Lessons Pearls Can Teach Us first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

Sometimes you don’t want to do a full study and just want something you can bring along on a road trip or while you’re traveling.

Something short enough you can print out or screenshot each one and have close by on your phone. 

Whether you like to do your devotionals at the beginning of the day, the end of the day, or sometime in between.

Whether you want to have them for yourself or use them as conversation starters with a group. 

These short but deep devotionals are designed to give you an accessible way to connect with God and with your love for nature while on the go—whether that’s on a backpacking trip or on your lunch break at the office (dreaming of your next backpacking trip!). 

[Want a free downloadable PDF of these 5 quick devos without the photos? Click here.]

Day 1: For the Beauty of the Earth 

Such an integral part about being in nature is our enjoyment of the beauty that surrounds us. There is such a broad variety of beautiful natural scenes that we can visit.

Some people love the mountains, other people dream of their next trip to the sea, while others feel at home in the heat of a desert sunset.

When we look at the amazing variety of different biomes and natural spaces, it shows us how vast God is as Creator.

It demonstrates how creative God is, and how intentional God is that each of these spaces would work together as ecosystems with so many details helping everything flow together in unity and symbiosis.

Questions:

• What natural spaces speak to you?
• Why do you think that is?
• What characteristics of God are speaking to you right now?
• How do you see them reflected in the nature around you? 

Day 2: Joy in the Journey

A unique aspect of spending time outdoors is that the entire experience has value.

There are so many areas of life where the focus is on the end goal, or the finish line.

However in a backpacking trip, the trail is the experience as well as the destination. On a paddle trip, the goal isn’t just to get to your destination but to enjoy every bit of the experience between the start and the end.

It is a unique skill, to learn how to take in your experience and enjoy the journey. When we do this, we are able to teach our brains to be looking for the small details and the beautiful sights that we might otherwise miss.

And we can do this in our lives, too. We can look for the small details of our days that bring so much joy into otherwise mundane tasks.

Question:

• Where can you look for beautiful details in your journey today? 
• Or if your day is almost over: What beautiful details did you see in today’s journey?

Day 3: Grateful 

Every time I get to be in nature, I find myself thanking God for the gift of that time and that experience.

I also find myself thanking God for the people who are with me on that adventure.

We see in scripture that nature is often given as a reason to thank God or a reason to praise God.

Psalm 104:24-25 is a great example of this!

“Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom, you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches. There is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable living things, both small and large animals.”

Question:

As you take a moment to sit in silence and observe your surroundings, what can you thank God for today? 

Day 4: False Peaks 

Life has so many twists and turns that are often unseen.

When we persevere towards an objective through hardship and obstacles it can be difficult to not be discouraged when we think we are close to the end, but realize we still have quite a ways to go.

I experienced this once in a practical way while climbing Cloud Peak in Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains.

From far away it looked like a straight shot to the summit, only to realize there are a few false peaks that obstruct your view of the actual summit on the last part of the ascent.

This can happen in life, too!

You think you are close to a goal or close to the end of a stressful or season of life, only to turn a corner and realize there is still some time before you can consider this journey completed.

Maybe it’s something you chose that is still challenging, like school or having kids. Maybe it’s something grief-filled like illness or loss.

God wants to be with you in those seasons, and wants to carry the burden of that disappointment with you.

Questions:

• Where in your life have you been disappointed by “false peaks”?
• Where do you sense God is partnering with you to carry the weight of that season? 

Day 5: Unique Giftings 

The Bible says that you were knit together in your mother’s womb. That you were made intentionally and purposefully and with love.

Psalm 139:13 says: “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

God made each of us unique with different strengths, weaknesses and perspectives. Both in our faith walk and in outdoor adventures we see these unique differences provide us with an opportunity to grow deeper into relationships and community.

As a practical example—I’m not very tall so on Boundary Waters trips I offer to carry the packs, and someone who’s taller gets to portage the canoe.

We use our gifts to help the trip run more smoothly and efficiently.

You bring something that no one else can bring, whether it’s your sense of humor or a skill set you have.

Spend some time asking God and listening for a response about these…

Questions:

• What characteristics and giftings do you have?
• Are you sharing these, or is something getting in the way of that?
• Where can you lean on the giftings of others? 

Wrapping Up

It’s five days later. How did these devotional times go for you?

Do you have a specific length of trip you’re planning and would like help with devotionals?

Or is there a specific topic or focus that you think would be interesting?

Email us and let us know! Or find us on Facebook or Instagram to join the conversion online in a community of like-minded outdoorsy folks! 

[Get these five quick devos in a free downloadable PDF.]

Here’s more…

• 20 Meaningful Bible Verses about Nature
• Build Christian Community through Outdoor Adventure
• Ideas for Devotionals for Your Next Camping Trip

The post Here are 5 Devos for Your Next Outdoor Trip first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

The Outdoors: A Place to Return To

Generally, people who enjoy spending time in nature and the outdoors prefer to engage in those outdoor activities repeatedly.

I’ve never heard an outdoor enthusiast say, “Yeah, I went hiking once, and that’s all I need. I won’t need to go hiking ever again.”

When we talk about spending time in green and blue spaces and being outside, it’s an ongoing engagement with these spaces.

For many of us, spending time in nature has been a conversation between us and nature that we’ve been having for years—even decades!  We return to these places and these activities over and over again because of what they mean to us.

They are stabilizing. Life-giving. They are joy-infusing and healing. 

The Outdoors: A Place that Heals and Replenishes

There are definitely times when I feel like I’ve been away from nature for too long. It’s like something in me is depleted.

In seasons of my life when I’m not outside enough, I often find myself to be more tired. To lack motivation to engage in daily movement. I’ve forgotten how fortifying and renewing it is to get outside and be in nature, even if it’s just for a short amount of time!

Newton’s laws of motion state that an object in motion stays in motion, and I think that applies here too.

A person who prioritizes time outdoors will keep going outdoors. Momentum matters when it comes to building healthy habits. 

The Benefits are Expansive

We see this supported in science as well that consistently spending time in the outdoors is good for our mental health, our physical health, our sleep and so much more!

Read more about that here, in a great article by the United States Forest Service. And for any of you who like to dive a little deeper and see the science, here is a research article published by the National Institute of Health.

God: A Relationship that Heals and Replenishes 

This is similar to the way Jesus talks about our faith as well.

In the Bible, Jesus talks about God being our provider. When He was on the earth with the disciples, they depended on God for providence and care in a variety of ways.

Jesus didn’t say, “Pray once and then you’re all good.” In Matthew 6, when Jesus is teaching the disciples the way to pray, He includes the line, “Give us today our daily bread.”

This implies that if we’re getting our daily bread today, we’ll also need to ask for it tomorrow, and the next day and the next. It reinforces the importance of a daily prayer practice even though that may look drastically different from person to person.

In the Old Testament when God was providing for the Hebrews, the instructions were to collect the manna daily. Any they tried to save overnight became rotten.

God promises to be our provider, too. And as we sustain that relationship we see that play out in our lives in miraculous ways! 

So we repeatedly seek out nature for the positive benefits it gives us (which in turn is seeking out God because God made nature to bless us in those ways!)…

And we repeatedly seek out connection and relationship with the God of the universe who made us and who is continually renewing our strength and giving us the grace and mercy needed for our lives. 

Never Too Late 

Just like it’s never too late to start having an ongoing conversation with God, it’s never too late to start spending time in nature!

If you have wanted to spend more time outdoors consistently, I encourage you to start small and find activities that work for your lifestyle and schedule. Don’t compare yourself to other people when it comes to how you engage with the natural world around you.

[Sometimes, finding a group to join can help, too!]

In the same way, if you’re learning how to experience the daily bread that comes with spending time with God:

• It works to start small
• Don’t compare your faith walk and experience with others
• Find others to encourage you in your spiritual journey

Dig Deeper

Read the story of God providing the Hebrews with manna in the wilderness in Exodus 16. Reflect on what resources you’re being asked to depend on God for daily in this season.

Is it grace? Is it faith? Is it a fruit of the Holy Spirit? 

Here’s more…

• Build Christian Community through Outdoor Adventure
• How to Widen Your Tent Pegs
• Ideas for Devotionals for Your Next Camping Trip

The post Daily Bread: Enjoy God in the Outdoors first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

I’ve done a fair amount of camping. So I have in mind what I know I need to take—with slight edits based on what kind of trip it is.

This list has been built over time and from experiences all around the world.

The items at the top of the list are likely there because, at some point in time, I forgot it and learned my lesson really fast! Like the time I forgot fuel to cook the food on a backpacking trip—0/10 would not recommend!

One of those supply lists that I have in my head is what I will need for my sleeping accommodations.

When thinking about shelters for camping, there are two common types I want to compare and contrast:

• Tent camping
• Hammock camping.

Both are great! However, both require a different supply and requirements list.

(Keep in mind this article is not a comprehensive list for your trip. This will just compare the supply lists for the sleeping portion of your packing list. These sleeping accommodations are comparable whether backpacking or campground camping with minor variations.)  

Terrain

First things first—what is your terrain like?

Will there be trees appropriate to hang your hammock from? Or will you end up using it on the ground like a tarp?

Cowboy camping under the stars is fun! But not when it’s your only option and you’re getting soaked because of it!

Will there be places on the ground that are large enough and flat enough for your tent? Or will you end up sleeping on a hill with your neck on a tree root and your feet in a puddle?

Weather 

What is the weather looking like?

Does a hammock setup provide you with enough shelter from the elements to stay safe on your trip?

Think about low temperatures at night, and projected wind and rain forecasts.

A hammock setup can definitely be lighter and take up less space in a pack. A bonus for the ultralight crowd! 

Gear List for Each

Now we’ll compare the actual gear lists, and discuss a few differences:

Tent vs Hammock: Main Differences

Okay, now let’s look at some of the main differences:

The tent needs a footprint under it to help keep your floor dry.

A hammock is suspended and the bottom shouldn’t touch the ground. However, if the ground might be muddy and you’ll want someplace to keep your shoes or put your pack, an extra tarp or footprint is useful.

A hammock also provides the best temperature regulation when an additional layer of the underquilt is added. Even a warm night can be chilly with half your body exposed to the air under your hammock. Lots of your body heat will be sucked away from you without an underquilt.

In a tent, your sleeping pad provides that insulation.

What About Bugs?

Bugs: a mosquito net with a hammock allows you to not get eaten alive all night. A tent has that feature built-in.

I’ve heard of people adding a layer of magnets at the edges of their hammocks for more protection from insects and for temperature regulation. This isn’t as secure against insects as a mosquito net that’s designed to attach to your hammock and completely surround you, though.

Rain?

A rainfly is beneficial for both setups. But consider that your backpack is usually in your tent or a vestibule but will not fit in your hammock.

Consider bringing an additional tarp and ropes to add a second cover over the top of your hammock. Rainflies designed for hammocks are attached right overhead. They’re usually not designed with much extra coverage for items on the ground beneath you. If the wind is blowing rain sideways, your shoes, pack and anything else will get very wet!

When tent camping, for added comfort some choose to bring a cot instead of sleeping on a pad on the ground. That isn’t an option with a hammock. 

Sleeping Positions

Hammocks limit your sleeping positions a bit. They put your body at a curve that varies by how close together your hammock ends are and how curved the fabric is designed to be.

Hammock sleep systems attached to permanent locations (such as in buildings) can be entirely flat. But the kind of hammock sleeping we’re talking about will always have some type of curve.

Do you have a history of musculoskeletal concerns like back issues? If you do, please talk to your medical provider before you choose a sleep system.

There’s some advice surrounding the optimal sleep angle and how to achieve this with hammock camping. See this article to reference that information! 

Bring a Hammock Along Anyway

You may decide to sleep in your tent for the trip. But that doesn’t mean bringing hammocks along isn’t a great addition to your campsite!

They’re great nap spots and perfect for extra seats instead of sitting on the ground.

And crawling into a hammock at the end of a full day of camping is a moment of pure bliss! 

Is There an “Ultimate List”?

Most of this list came from my experience, but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.

Different people have different preferences when it comes to what they have to have with them and where they’re willing to cut some weight out of their pack. So keep in mind these are recommendations, not rules.

As I looked around the internet to double check my list, I saw so many websites advertising “the ultimate list for…” or “the complete gear checklist for…”

So many websites seemed to assert their expertise as being the best or most complete list one could possibly find.

There are many excellent posts that I referenced in writing this and I want to give them credit as well. Those websites are here, here and here. I highly recommend checking out these links!

But, because of the nuances of personal preference, weather, type of trip and terrain, it’s difficult to create a truly comprehensive list for every person and every circumstance. 

There Isn’t Really an “Ultimate” Life List Either

This concept can also apply to our perspective surrounding life and engaging with the world around us!

There are so many times in life when we need to look at our circumstances and determine the right set of strengths needed. To balance our strengths and weaknesses within that.

There are foundational things—like don’t forget the tent. But there’s truly no “best” or “most complete” supply list. Everyone has preferences, and different trips may require different supplies.

Similarly, there are foundational character qualities that are important for every human to have. But there’s no ultimate or best list of strengths and abilities.

We’re all gifted in different ways. Those of us who believe our strengths and gifts are God-given believe these differences are what makes us truly shine in community with one another.

Our differences in strengths and our unique needs help us learn to depend on God and each other. They teach us to appreciate perspectives that are different from our own. 

Wrapping Up

What necessary items are on your packing list for your sleeping accommodations?

Did I miss any? Feel free to respond and let us know! To get a deeper dive into tents and how they connect to our faith walk, read How to Widen Your Tent Pegs. 

P.S. I feel an honorable mention is due for this article. Many thanks to my best friend and camping pal Lydia for taking so many random candids of me in tents over the years! 

Here’s more…

• Ideas for Devotionals for Your Next Camping Trip
• Camping Cabins: A Great Alternative to Motels & Tents
• Build Memories through Outdoor Travel & Recreation

The post Tent vs Hammock for Camping: Which is Best? first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

In the moment it sounds fun and adventurous and economical for everyone to cram a little. Everyone has a little less weight to carry…

Until someone’s feet are in your face and no one is sleeping!

The person sleeping next to the tent wall will often wake up a little damp from the dew coming through because there was no space to allow evaporation. If it rains, even more so. The tent is likely to become Puddle Central! 

Life Is Like a Tent 

Sometimes when life is bursting at the seams, things can get a little messy.

There’s a verse in the Bible where God tells His followers to:

“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.”

Isaiah 54:2

In many of the cultures represented in the Bible, the people groups were nomadic and lived in tents. So this teaching made sense to them in the context of their culture.

There are some differences between the backpacking tent I think of and the traditional tents of these ancestral cultures.

Theirs were large structures made of animal skins and often had multiple rooms with curtains separating spaces for different uses. They often attached additional fabric or animal hides to expand the tents.

This allowed people and families to create additional space they needed to bring more people in. They could all be included to dwell together in community. 

What Is Your Capacity? 

I was thinking about this lately in the context of how we as followers of Jesus interact with people in the world around us.

Just like a too-full tent feels like it’s no longer functioning the way it’s supposed to, sometimes a too-full life feels overwhelming. Like the day-to-day activities fall apart a bit at the seams.

Sometimes it feels like there’s just so much going on in life. When we add more, everything gets stretched to the limit.

As I thought about it, it struck me that there could be a lesson here when we compare the tents we use today with the tents that would have been used in the Bible.

I think it’s a cool metaphor we can apply to our outdoor adventure lives and think about in the context of our spiritual lives. 

Spiritual Tent Pegs 

Isaiah 54:2 is often used to describe spiritual capacity. To encourage Christians to widen the tent pegs of their hearts.

There are so many things this could mean, including:

• Praying for a new topic
• Hosting a Bible study to disciple people newly exploring a Christian faith practice
• Volunteering with refugee or immigration ministries
• Helping care for families experiencing change by contributing to a meal train
• Even inviting someone to live with you and your family.

There are so many ways we can translate this encouragement into action.

I took a deep dive in this topic when I read The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Dr. Rosaria Butterfield. If you see this verse as an invitation to grow more in a spiritual gift of hospitality, I recommend this read! 

Empowered to Expand 

Here is where the metaphor comes in:

We can’t widen the tent pegs on our own.

Radical acts of generosity and creating space in your life require a supernatural grace. In our own strength, we’re more like a modern tent.

It doesn’t matter how hard I try, I can’t get my tent to get bigger by pulling on it more. I’ll just pull it apart at the seams.

Alternatively, when the Holy Spirit inspires how I spend my time and resources and gives me the grace to do so, I can be more like the historical tents used in Biblical times.

This is where the Holy Spirit gives me the grace to expand my capacity. To use discernment to know where I’m called to allocate resources, and where someone else is called to allocate their resources. 

Everyone’s Giftings Are Unique 

This doesn’t look the same for every person who follows Christ.

We don’t take this metaphor and say “Look at their tent—how do they get so many people to fit?” We all have unique gifts we express in different ways.

I want you to think about it as an invitation to see how God wants to use you in unique and impactful ways.

Everyone’s “tent” is going to look a little different. However, at the end of the day, the verse gives the same call to all who follow Christ: Make space in your life.

Make space in your tent. 

Reflection 

What thoughts did this reading bring up in you? What can you talk about with a family member, friend or member of your congregation? 

Is there any place you feel the Lord is asking you to “expand your tent pegs”? 

Here’s more…

• Finding Beauty in Everyday Life
• Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park: Black Hills
• Why Strength is Key to Optimal Health

The post How to Widen Your Spiritual Tent Pegs first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

One of the stories that’s part of the journey to Jesus’ birth is the parallel miraculous birth story of John, born to Elizabeth and Zechariah.

In this post, I specifically want to focus on Zechariah’s silence. 

Luke 1

I’ve read the story in Luke 1 so many times. But I’ve only recently started to see it in a new way.

In this story, Zechariah is chosen to enter a holy space in the temple before God. He has an encounter with an angel who gives him a prophecy. His wife will have a child that’s conceived miraculously despite her advanced (menopausal implied) age.

He asks the angel about this and shares his doubts. In response, the angel tells Zechariah he will be unable to speak until his child is born. 

Reframing Silence 

Zechariah is merely human, just like you and me. I probably would’ve had the same response if I were in his shoes.

Needing comfort and reassurance in the face of long-time disappointment is such a normal human experience. I had always previously seen Zechariah’s silence as a punishment from God to Zechariah.

However, I’ve recently been seeing it instead as a loving invitation to a season of deep connection. Of deeper relationship with God.

I don’t think God expected Zechariah to have a different “more holy” or superhuman response. I think God knew Zechariah needed to share the pain and doubt in his heart. The temple was where he was familiar with the practice of being honest with God.

I don’t think God wants to punish us when we’re honest. I do think God wants to enter into those places where our faith needs to be strengthened. These places of pain can become places of wisdom and testimony.

I think that is what happened in Zechariah’s story.  

Silence in Nature 

When I thought of this story and how it connects to my own faith practice, the first thing that came to mind was how much I value the silence that comes when I spend time in nature.

When I’m in the woods, much of the static and background noise in my mind fades away. I feel like in this space I can experience the still, small voice of my Heavenly Father.

I treasure time spent in nature because it increases my connection to God. And stillness and silence help strengthen that connection. I truly feel God meets me and speaks to me in the stillness of nature. 

So why then, in the story of Zachariah did I assume silence is merely a punishment rather than an invitation to enter into a holy season when God wants to speak?

To prepare Zechariah for the role of father and for spiritual growth, God gives him the blessing of silence for a season.

This speaks to us about how we can live into this idea of creating space for God to speak.

As we wait for God’s promises to be born in our lives, we can practice silence—whether for an hour, a day or a weekend. Maybe it looks like fifteen minutes of intentional stillness every morning for Advent? 

So Much Potential 

Since removing the punitive mindset from the way I read this story, I’ve pictured Zechariah’s nine months of silence and the beauty and intimacy with God that could have been birthed from that experience.

He was in a community that highly valued experiences with God. His silence was a sign of God’s influence in his life, not a sign of punishment.

His culture was very community-focused and also focused on faith being a unifying experience. I can imagine his fellow community members giving him tasks in this season that allowed him to lean into this journey with the Lord. They surrounded him at this time.

I can picture him being overwhelmed with the beauty of the sunrise when he wasn’t distracted by his normal morning noise.

I can picture him encountering the presence of the Lord in new and beautiful ways during daily tasks.

I can imagine his friends smiling at him, so excited for this season of growth. Knowing it may be hard but also blessed—because God is the one who gave the invitation. 

Daily Practical Application

So how can we observe and practice this in our lives?

I try to spend some time in the woods every year doing something contemplative that allows me to exist in a greater level of silence. Sometimes it’s as simple as a twenty-minute walk through my neighborhood. No headphones, no talking—just silence. 

There are also specific places designed for you to do this, though. Some locations are designed for silent retreats. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that many of these places are built in secluded and beautiful nature settings.

I spent a weekend at Wilderness Fellowship Ministries (Wisconsin) in a prayer cabin one fall experiencing God’s beauty. I intentionally practiced how to be still and silent, and ask for God to speak. Pacem in Terris (Minnesota) is another similar retreat center. Okontoe (Minnesota) is also a Christian ministry that has spaces for this type of activity. It’s also designed as a respite for ministry staff who need a place of healing. 

A couple of pictures I took while spending time at Wilderness Fellowship Ministries… 

Further Reflection 

When we see that someone is in a season of silence and honesty with the Lord, how can we support them? How can we walk alongside them in that silence so they know that they’re not alone? How can we honor people who’ve gone through seasons of doubt and pain, and have been faithful through it? 

Have there been seasons where you felt called into more time spent in stillness? Do you want to be more honest with God about your pain, but you haven’t been because you’ve been seeing God in a punitive light? How can you practice that honesty with God today? 

In this season of Advent, are there ways you can incorporate contemplation and silence into your daily life? Can you also incorporate nature into your daily life as well?

If you do, and you have a reflection—send it to us! We’d love to hear your experiences—how you practice this in your life today and the fruit the Lord brings from it! If there’s enough interest we’d love to write a follow-up post featuring you, our readers! 

Here’s more…

• What the Bible Says About Nature and Creation
• Can Rest Cause You to Thrive?
• Why Should We be Thankful People?

The post Zechariah’s Silence: Step Into the Waiting first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

Do you have consistent parts of your daily routine? How does repetition change the way you see those activities, for example, a commute you make so often they all blend together?

Sometimes small details go unnoticed, especially when days get hectic.

Beauty is Everywhere 

Have you ever traveled and found yourself reflecting on the beauty of your trip once you returned home?

I recently traveled to Colorado to visit family and found myself continually enjoying the beauty of the nature around me. Specifically, I found myself appreciating being surrounded by views of mountains. It so starkly differs from the Minnesota views that exist at much lower elevations.

I love the beauty of Minnesota’s natural resources, and I also love seeing beauty in other places. But I realized how much more aware I was of my surroundings because they were something that I don’t often get to see. 

My cousin and I went to Rocky Mountain National Park to hike, explore and look for wildlife (from a safe distance). The views of the mountains were so fun for me! And they prompted me to think about how I perceive the views I see out my windows daily at home. 

Just a couple of the stunning views I enjoyed while visiting family in Colorado. These were taken in Rocky Mountain National Park 

Do I think about my drive the same when it’s a view I get to see every day?

That thought started me on a journey of wondering where I could find the same experience of beauty in my ordinary environment. And how to continue to notice beauty in the ordinary of my everyday routines. 

Finding Beauty that Gives Joy 

Sometimes we get so used to something in our world that we forget to notice its beauty. This brings to mind the practice of gratitude and how developing a daily practice of gratitude is so good for our mental health.

It also brings to mind how God talks in the Bible about giving us our daily bread. This daily bread can relate to physical providence, but it also applies to emotional and spiritual needs as well.

God has made this world so intentionally. And because of that, there’s beauty woven into so much of the world around us! God is also so intentional with us. I believe when we see beauty in our ordinary lives it’s a sign of God’s love for us.

The Bible also talks about how the flowers of the field are dressed gloriously and fit for a king. While this talks about trusting God for provision, I think it also shows the beauty in the details. How God means for us to take time to see the beauty in the details of the world around us. 

How to Search for Joy and Beauty in the Everyday 

I’ve started being more intentional in looking for these little moments. Some people call these a “glimmer” that can infuse joy into our daily lives and ground us—even if we are experiencing stress or struggle.

These are the daily small moments that shine through and turn the ordinary into something extraordinary.

And for me, these moments often are nature-themed in some way.

Whether it’s the sunrise on the way to work, a beautiful flower pushing up through the cracks in the sidewalk, or dew drops on a spiderweb on the railing as I leave my apartment building to go to work.

The mundane can be sacred, and it can be important to combine those areas of life in our minds. Just like we don’t have to wait until we’re in an organized service to engage in worshiping God, we don’t have to wait to appreciate nature until we’re out of our normal lives and environments.

We can see it every day. In choosing to notice small glimmers of joy and beauty throughout the day, we’re choosing to cultivate a practice of small moments of worship scattered throughout the day.

This practice helps continually remind us of God’s goodness and presence.

When we train our minds to look for those beautiful details and connect them to a practice of gratitude and worship, we’re training our brains to “meditate on things above” (Colossians 3). To include God in the day-to-day moments instead of disconnecting our life from our faith in those moments. 

Don’t Wait for the Next Big Trip

I may not always be able to plan big trips. Or get away from life to be in the wilderness for long stretches at a time. Most people, like me, have responsibilities like work and families that have us engaged in our daily lives.

Rather than waiting for the next big trip, how can we take the wonder we’re used to experiencing in other places and look for places to experience that wonder in our daily lives?

I know for me, sunrises and sunsets never cease to amaze me with beauty. They leave me feeling joyful and even giddy!

I always listen for the first thunderstorm of spring, because I don’t hear thunder all winter long. So for me, it’s a sign the seasons are really turning and spring is here! 

Finding Joy and Beauty with Others 

This is also a great practice to teach to kids!

Kids are already so curious and so apt to notice details. As we introduce our kids to God and the enjoyment of being in nature, we can show them these little moments in life are moments to choose worship and express gratitude to God for the beauty of the world He’s given us.

These brief but impactful moments of encountering God’s beauty in the world and love for us also remind me of the importance of child-like faith. So when I practice them with the kids in my life, it makes the wonder of the moment that much greater. 

These glimmers can also be shared. Do you have a friend or accountability partner to whom you can send pictures of your little moments? Or if you know special things that make their heart glad, how can you be watching to send glimmers to the people you love? 

Reflection

How can you look for beauty in places that seem mundane and might be overlooked? 

Where can you find the beauty of nature in your everyday activities? 

Here are the verses I used in the article in case you want to reflect on them further: 

• Colossians 3:1-2
• Matthew 6:11
• Matthew 6:28-31

Here’s more…

• Find Your Way to “Hidden” Beauty
• Why Beauty Matters to Us
• He Gives Power to the Weak

The post Don’t Forget to Find Beauty in Everyday Life first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

It symbolizes a change in season and is something embedded in the biology of migratory animals.

I look forward to seeing them fly over every year both in the spring and in the fall, landing on local lakes.

In the fall I usually also notice the new chill in the air. In the spring, seeing the geese brings hope that winter is almost over and the warm sun will soon melt the Minnesota snow into spring. 

The Migration Phenomenon

There are so many variables that go into migration that show how complex and amazing creation is! From the complex migratory patterns to the strength and perseverance these animals display on these long, arduous journeys.

These patterns aren’t something the animals think about consciously. They don’t decide every year when to leave, what route to take, or why they’re going. It’s an innate and precise calling that continues through generations of species.

Their actions aren’t random but rather God intentionally designed them with these intrinsic callings built into their genetic codes.

And God has planned for these animals to be provided for as they migrate. Often their migratory timing and paths coincide with advantageous resources such as favorable weather and food sources.

They find the resources needed for different life stages and activities of an organism in completely different locations. The migrating animals know none of these details as they interact with their various ecosystems! 

If you live in another region of the world as you read this, there may be other animals whose migration and transition marks a season.

Other examples are that of monarch butterflies, blue whales, and salmon. There are examples of migratory animals of all shapes and sizes and in all locations. 

How God Can Speak to Us Through Animal Migration

One of my favorite things about nature is that God often writes into it parallels that display His character and goodness. We see those same characteristics of God present in our lives and spiritual journeys, too.

This is true for the topic of migration.

I’m thankful God tells parables and stories through nature. He uses these gentle parallels to speak to us continually about living a faith-filled life. 

I see in each of these migratory species a unique journey God designed them to undergo. It’s written into their genetics.

For our spiritual walks, I would compare that to our characteristics, calling, and the journeys we have written into our spiritual DNA by God. He uniquely designed each of us to bring beauty and purpose to the world around us. 

A Couple of Epic Biblical Journeys

In thinking about stories of faith that describe this, I thought about Abraham and Rebekah. Not only did they spiritually have a very specific journey that God asked them to say yes to, but they also physically migrated—much like the examples from nature listed above. 

Abraham heard the voice of God calling him to seek new lands and to create a place for his people to continue to grow and experience God. This journey laid the groundwork for the Jewish people and the genealogy of Christ. 

Rebekah was offered a huge life-changing decision, with not much time to think about it. She said yes to the journey God had for her that resulted in a move far from her family and everything she had known. 

I believe they both had personality traits and characteristics God had given them that allowed them to say yes to those journeys. And allowed them to have the skills and strengths they needed to be successful.

Just like God has placed into monarch butterflies and Canada geese the strength to fly hundreds of miles at a time! 

Our Yes to God Blesses Others

When we say yes to the things God has built into us, it brings life to others around us as well.

Another fall tradition that accompanies the migration of salmon is the preparation for hibernation grizzly bears go through. They feed on salmon as the fish run through specific, historic feeding grounds on their way to spawn.

This has been happening for generations. The salmon migrate upstream, and the bears feed on them in preparation for hibernation. This is a picture of nature working together for the greater health and balance of ecosystems.

When we say yes to the journeys built into our spiritual DNA, it brings life to us and to those around us. It’s a testimony of the goodness and grace of the God we follow. 

When I think about my life, I see ways that God has woven together a story from things that made no sense at the time—just like a Canada goose flying south one day wouldn’t make sense outside of the greater story of its life.

Whether it be relationships or jobs, God has continued to be that internal guiding force pointing my life towards a migration homeward, closer every day to the Creator. 

Questions for Reflection

Are there any stories in the Bible of God using someone’s natural gifts and strengths that speak specifically to you? 

When you think of your spiritual DNA and the journey you’re on, what comes to mind? 

As you spend time in silent reflection and prayer about this, what’s the Holy Spirit saying to you about how you’re made and how this topic interacts with your story? 

FOR FUN: If you’re interested in watching this happen in real-time, tune into Katmai National Park’s Fat Bear Week every October to see the salmon run and the bears eat! Vote for the fattest bear!

Here’s more…

• Why Symbiotic Relationships in Nature are So Cool
• Paddling Through Life: Resilience
• Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace

The post Animal Migration and Epic Journeys in the Bible first appeared on Heaven and Nature.