Tag Archives: nature

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Finding Comfort in Nature: God’s Messages Unveiled

As I walked deeper into the woods, only God was with me. Watching the leaves fall, one particular leaf caught my eye. It descended gently from the tree summits. Swaying back and forth, with a slow tumble, a dance was taking place that happens over and over. I actually got a picture as it is dancing to the ground.

What are you telling me, God? This is a question I ask constantly. I believe our Christian journey has many mysteries, don’t you? So, to help me focus on God and His plans for me, I try to live in curiosity, watching for the mysteries that He can help me solve.

By myself, I have trouble solving even the smallest of mysteries. Mysteries like crossword puzzles, the right amount of creamer in my wife’s coffee, what time the 5:00 news comes on.

I struggle with all the mysteries of life. I best understand a spiritual mystery by listening and watching, waiting for my Lord and Savior’s explanations. I need His help.

Hearing from God? I bet you are expecting me to say, read the Bible. Hmmm, appropriate answer, but that’s a great way to VERIFY a message from God. Pray? You undoubtedly get closer to God and His Will through prayer.

Being in nature is when I personally feel I “hear and see” God. Fly-fishing, elk hunting, hiking the mountains, walking in the park — these are all excuses to get me into the woods, into nature, where I can hear from God.

What are you showing me this time? Does God speak to me every time I take a walk? Do I catch a fish on every trip? Even though the answer is no, I still want to pay close attention to everything, so I can grasp whatever is being shown to me.

This one leaf landed on the path I hike on. Three days ago, the trees you see in the picture were still holding their leaves. A carpet of thick leaves now covers the woods’ floor. This leaf reminds me of a dear friend who is being buried today. I now think of someone who is changing careers. Now I have thoughts of my children having their own children. My thoughts focus on my life plus current shifts. There are always changes, good and bad.

My mind is full of too much thinking. It’s best for me to continue walking. The steady rhythm of my stride gives a calming effect. The smell of these leaves I’m strolling through, feeling this crisp autumn air, hearing the creatures of the forest (I hear geese!) are all making my senses come alive.

Being in nature clears my mind. My brain is jumbled with numerous thoughts, but they’re intentionally thinning out to a single question. God, what are you telling me?

Is God talking to me on this trip? He is. He says, “Keep walking, son. Lots of leaves to fall on this path. Lots of changes will always take place. You just keep walking; I’ll be there with you. That will never change.”

Comfort is what I felt on this hike. Not comfort that comes from a relaxing recliner chair. Not comfort from a fireplace. But comfort felt in my soul. How? I talked with a superior being! His words were “heard” by me on this hike! All the changes and shifts in my life, yet He said I’ll be there with you.

Regardless of your current shifts, here’s a poem for you. What I felt in the woods is summed up here.

“You can shed tears that she is gone, or you can smile because she has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her, or you can be full of the love you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember her only in that she is gone, or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back. Or you can do what she’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.” David Harkin

I walk and hike on this spiritual journey with Jesus. I love and live by the following verse: John 14:6 (VOICE) Jesus: I am the path, the truth, and the energy of life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

If you’re stuck behind a desk, you need to “take a hike” for better physical wellness. If you’re stuck in a rut spiritually, “take a hike” on the path called Jesus. Spiritual wellness is just as important.

I seem to get pulled into nature to hear from God. Where do you go to hear from your Heavenly Father?

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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Finding Hope in God’s Beauty: A Wilderness Adventure

Seeing the Beauty in Life using God’s Enlightenment

On a cold, dreary, late winter’s day, I’m propelling my kayak towards a remote and hidden spot in the swamp. This area is one of my favorite places for a wilderness adventure because it’s so secluded and quiet. Across the bog and with the water mirroring its image, a pink colorful plant catches my eye.

What is striking to me is the color from these delicate flowers contrasted to the colors defined by the dead. The dead tree, the dead grass, the dead branches and dead limbs. Everywhere on this dull, dreary, overcast day the drab is overwhelmingly painting a gloomy scenario. Yet, planted within this dullness, this plant full of pink flowers is offering a glimmer of hope to draw me away from the humdrum . The hope that no matter the dull and colorless that is seen in this world, my focus can be on beauty. I’m being drawn to this beautiful display as if my eyes are unquestionably focused on the good, not the everyday mundane.

I steer my kayak closer and take a moment to let my senses overflow with this beauty. The locals call this plant a “Wild Azalea”. Have you ever seen one growing in the wild? The fragrance from these flowers is nothing but SWEET! The colors can only be described as vibrant and beautiful.

It makes me come alive just to be experiencing this perfect illustration of seeing beauty in a dull, dreary world.

Here’s my prayer for you and me. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His Calling, what are the riches of the Glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Ephesians 1: 17-19

Do you ever feel pulled into the “going through the motions” routine in your everyday life? It can feel so dull, so day to day, so normal, over and over, rinse and repeat. But there’s hope! On our Christian journeys we can know the hope of God’s calling to you. We can share in His riches of Glory! And we experience His power! All we have to do is believe.

How do you believe? Look at it like this. Don’t get “stuck in your kayak” surrounded by doom and gloom. Instead steer your kayak/your life towards that spirit of wisdom and revelation that comes from knowing God. I’ll keep praying for you to find Him. Many of you out there have found Him. I’ll pray for you that everyday you see the beauty that comes from not only knowing about God, but through Jesus Christ you will use your enlightened eyes to see the true beauty He is showing you. (even in a kayak!)

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135 year Old Tree Gives Birth to a Baby Tree Already Filled With Memories.

Our 135 yr old mulberry tree is our family’s favorite tree. It’s been there for four generations. Learning how to take cuttings from the tree and potting them to grow its own roots has given us a chance to have several new baby trees identical to this icon of our family farm.

Four generations. First, Rice Ainsworth grazed cattle around this tree in the early 1900’s. The tree was already large enough to provide cooling shade from the sweltering heat for his cows. I imagine Rice himself stopping a time or two to eat the delicious berries produced starting in May of each year. Close your eyes and picture the cows resting underneath this tree. That’s a calming picture wouldn’t you agree?

Second generation, Wiley Ainsworth grazed cows and cut hay around this tree during the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Even before then he climbed the tree to eat his share of mulberries. As a child he would walk out on the huge limbs to feast on the berries. There was a reason he could just walk the limbs and not climb them. The tree had blown over,probably from a storm. It didn’t die, but would from then on grow with these huge limbs stretching out horizontally to the ground. All bent and mangled, it definitely lost its timber value. But,….. it provided easy access for us Ainsworths to climb in and around the canopy of leaves. Why would generations be climbing in this tree? Well, to grab handfuls of those tasty berries is the main reason. But really the main reason was it was such a calming place in nature to be.

understanding your roots
(Wiley Ainsworth 86 yrs old, tree roughly 127 yr old in this picture)

Third generation. The 70’s and 80’s brought a young Dan Ainsworth (me) traveling to and from this tree. My memories with this tree are uncountable. Jet, our horse at the time provided me several rides to the tree. I would then stuff myself full of berries. The tree was conveniently located between two of my best fishing holes. I’d stop and stuff myself full of berries. By the way, don’t eat a belly full of mulberries and then eat green plums. It will make ya sick!

Some days I would just climb the tree and sit. I want to say that I heard God speak to me at an early age while in this tree. All kinds of sounds could be heard while in this tree. A Mockingbird, a Bobwhite Quail, cows mooing, a distant train whistle, and the most exciting sound for me,…….. the screeching call of a Red Tail Hawk. Hmmm, maybe it was God. He was speaking through his creation/choir members.

The calendar keeps turning. 2000’s and 2010’s, the fourth generation of Ainsworths (Jamie and Jordan) are enjoying their time with the mangled but majestic tree. Jordan could spend hours in that tree if you’d let him. Just the other day, Jordan and his wife Jill took a picture holding the sonogram picture of their soon to be born baby close to the tree. 5th generation coming into the scene?

Jamie had such an impression of the tree that she named her store Mulberry Dreams. I like the sound of that myself. It gives you such a picture of calmness. Wow, just like when the cows were grazing there years and years before.

Excitement is now in the air! I have learned how to propagate a mulberry tree using cuttings from the tree itself. They will be genetically the same as the old, old tree. These cuttings/ baby trees will begin their life in a Solo cup, then repotted to a one gallon pot as their roots grow. Then they will be planted wherever Jamie and Jordan choose to plant them. The trees (loaded with memories from past generations) now will grow roots and continue to flourish providing a newer place of calmness for generations to come.

(I love this translation of this scripture from THE MESSAGE Bible translation) Deuteronomy 32:7 Read up on what happened before you were born; dig into the past, understand your roots. Ask your parents what it was like before you were born; ask the old ones, they will tell you a thing or two.

We all have a history, a past. This history has a tremendous effect on how we face the future. Naturally, if you have a past then there will be good and bad memories mixed in. But all in all you’ve been growing roots to prepare you for the future. Just like my baby tree in that Solo cup, you’ve got to be providing a place for your roots to grow even more.

Spiritually the same applies. Maybe you’ve got your own Mulberry Tree/ a calm place/ a safe place. It’s where you like to hang out. God provides you with a “cutting” so that you can carry this “calmness” with you. But you’ve got to let the roots grow! Feed your roots with prayer by talking (and listening) to God. Grow even more with readings from the Bible. The times in your “spiritual Mulberry Tree” can then be passed on to future generations!

As I write this I’m watching a squirrel in the Mulberry Tree acrobatically climb out on limbs and stuff himself with the fruit. I think I’ll join him. It’s probably best if I stay on the ground to eat mine. See Ya!