Tag Archives: hiking

TIME DOES FLY

Posted on by
Reply

Happy New Year! 

In my younger years I often heard my “elders” declare  with each passing year that common phrase “my, how time flies”. I honestly didn’t give much attention to that thought, until now. I “get it”. Passage of time since our own children entered adulthood seems to have caught me up in this  perceived acceleration of time. Maybe I can credit this due to a lightened schedule–no full time work requiring me to report to five days a week, parenting of small children behind me now, less bills to pay.

Sitting here on a very cold day I can’t help but reflect on the past year. It truly seems like yesterday when I drove north in the month of April to enjoy a four day sabbatical. Except for a few times when my husband was away for a weekend, I hadn’t been truly “alone” since my mid 20s when I lived in an apartment with no roommate. Last April, warmer days teased  us with opportunities to be outdoors, heavy coats no longer necessary, promises of sunshine on our faces overpowering the previous weeks of cloudy wintry weeks.

The opportunity to be alone for four days taught me a lot. I learned that I am fully capable of taking care of myself. Awkward at first, with no one to talk to, I grew comfortable in silence.  I let the natural rhythm of sunrises and sunsets dictate my schedule, not relying on a clock. With the exception of using my phone for assisting me with scripture reading or watching a movie, there was no noise in my northern habitat  from TV or radio. What a wonderful break from outside interference!

On two occasions I stepped out of my comfort zone–no pun intended–and ventured on two hikes on trails near where I was staying. I’ve been on hiking trails before, with friends, but this time in April I was alone. My only company was April’s cool breezes, wind in the trees, and the sound of crunching leaves under my feet, accompanied by my increased breathing as I pushed my body to new limits navigating each trail. Though I was apprehensive at first, being alone in the woods, any fear I initially embraced soon waned, making room for excitement and exhilaration at achieving a bucket list goal–go on a hike without anyone else tagging along. 

As much as I thought I was alone though, in reality I was not. The entire purpose for getting away for a few days was to allow me time to dive deeper into scripture, spend uninterrupted stretches of time listening and talking to God. Each morning gave me well over an hour–even two–accomplishing this desire, yet I found that during  both hikes in the woods God continued to speak, be present, and reveal Himself to me, reminding me that I am truly “never alone”.  What a gift, what a promise!

As 2026 has arrived, it is hard for me to comprehend that soon it will be a year since my sabbatical. Thankfully, the memories I created from my four days are journaled in a book set aside for just that time. Hopefully, I’ll be able to create a few days in this new year to embrace another stretch of time alone, get out pen, paper, Bible, and notebook to dig a little deeper into scripture that is alive by the power of the Holy Spirit, who still teaches and speaks new things from generation to generation.

Yes, I will agree that “time flies” as one gets older. And, I’m okay with that because God “is the same, yesterday, and tomorrow.”  (Paraphrase from Hebrew 13:8) He’s the One who exists outside time as we humans know it; He’s the One Who will sometimes speak in a still quiet voice whether we find ourselves on a winding hiking trail or sitting under a cozy blanket as the sun rises, giving us the promise of a new day with “new mercies every morning” (Lamentations 3: 22-23).

I’m ready for what 2026 holds. I’m excited to look back next year and see where God showed up, how He spoke, what He taught–not only for me–but everyone I love, and for our community!

DON’T LET SIZE FOOL YOU

Posted on by
Reply

I am a self admitting proscranitor along with inconsistency regarding exercise goals. My determination ebbs and flows like ocean tides that instinctively sync with our moon. I’d be ecstatic if my desire to walk outside was tied to a natural phenomena in God’s creation, but hope and wish all I want, the fact remains that I am in charge of my choices regarding exercise.

Before sitting down to write this week I laced up my reliable shoes and got outside on the paved road that loops in a “U” shape through a neighborhood that was built up with homes in recent years. Their road makes a very nice safe place to walk, even run, without danger of speeding cars. As much as I enjoy what my neighborhood offers in safety, I found that I’m not the only one benefiting from the road’s mostly smooth surface between well groomed lawns. Catching my eye as I strolled along were numerous small anthills between the road’s edge and multiple lawns. 

I knew we had gotten rain throughout the night as the ground was still wet under humid conditions. Collected dirt and lawn clippings swept along the road like a river were now flat and damp, displaying an appearance of a dried up river bed. Their bronzy hues made a perfect setting for the anthills that are standing small though erect with no apparant damage to carefully laid granules of dirt to create small pyramid shaped homes. I was curious about how these little creatures build the entrances to their tunnel homes. This is what I found: Ants are a superorganism. They have division of labor, use collective problem solving techniques. The nest is one of architecture with a variety of materials, use of soil mechanics, has built in defenses and includes drainage systems. The mound we see on surfaces is the entrance. Underground lies intricate tunnel systems.

In summary, the strength of an anthill lies not just in its physical structure but also in the collective power, sophisticated organization, and adaptable nature of the ant colony within it. (Source AI overview)

I’ve always thought watching ants at work is a fascinating pastime, especially when I was a kid sitting under a shade tree in our front yard. All these years later, now, in adulthood they still intrigue me. Naturally, I know that ants are even mentioned in scripture where in Proverbs 6: 6-9 we humans are admonished to “Go the ant, O lazy one; observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, overseer or ruler, she prepares her food in the summer and brings in her provisions (of food for the winter) in the harvest.” (Amplified Version

Ouch! To be thought of as lazy compared to a tiny ant. To be instructed that these little guys accomplish a lot of hard work without need of a supervisor! Lots of lessons to be learned, a lot of humble pie to eat comparing human nature to that of a small insect. How like God, though, to use anything in His creation in an attempt to impart wisdom to mankind.

In addition to my fascination with ants, I must also confess that I’m not overly happy when they make their way into our home. In past years, we’ve had our share of intruders, always in the same spot along a kitchen window over our sink. By using homemade remedies and careful re-caulking around obvious entry points I was thrilled we didn’t have our annual visitors scurrying across dirty dishes or on the floor in search of a crumb. As useful as ants are to our ecosystem, I have always drawn the line at them sharing living space with us. As long as they stay outside, I will not bother them. I make every attempt not to flatten the entrance mounds to their underground homes. I don’t wash them away with a garden hose or spray strong insecticides in the lushness of our lawn.

I’ll continue to be delighted by ants–as long as they stay put in their natural habitats –and remain humbled that God considers them to “be exceedingly wise”. (Proverbs 30: 24) Certainly you and I can learn a lot from these problem solving hard workers. If it wasn’t so, I dare say God would not have mentioned them in His written Word.