The days are growing shorter, the sun is later to rise. I have mixed feelings about the change in season. Summer is my favorite season, filled with warmth, sunshine and early morning runs. I love the laid back time with my kids at the pool. Fall brings structure and routine, which I crave, with the start of a new school year. It also brings beautiful colored leaves, jeans and sweatshirt weather. What I dread is the endless cold of winter, days trapped indoors with limited sunshine. The winter blues are a real struggle. Even in the summer when I’m hit with endless clouds, rain, and hours stuck inside my attitude takes a turn. Eeyore rules my emotions.
One of the things that I have found to help with these down and out feelings is to force myself to go outside, to be in nature, even when it is less than ideal weather.
Romans 1:20
NLT
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
There is a couple from our church that enjoys riding bike of the Harley variety but few years ago ventured out on the pedal bike variety. It started with one short ride and led to a summer and fall full of adventures biking trails from start to finish. The longest was over 100 miles! They would load up their bikes to head to the trail of the day, bike as far as they could, return to their vehicle and then come back another day to pick up where they left off. They would post pictures on social media of their adventures and the nature. They didn’t just blaze a trail but stopped to “smell the roses” taking pictures of flowers, streams, birds and animals they encountered. When winter arrived they didn't just whole up in their house for the season but bundled up and went walks in all kinds of weather: snow, wind, ice and freezing cold.
As we approach winter, yes it’s only August, but I’m getting ready. I want to develop the habit of being in nature. The nature that speaks to the qualities of God, to make this a season of knowing God rather than being a lumpy Eeyore. Start the habit with me this week by being in nature everyday. Write down what you learn about God
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