Last weekend, I managed to take a retreat to the land my family and relatives enjoy out in the mountains. One of the many things I appreciate about going out into the wilderness is the quiet ebbing of life and how so much can happen around you without much noise. Cities are loud with cars, appliances humming, people talking, airplanes flying overhead, clocks ticking, the beeps and rings of phones, etc. Nature is a symphony – the applause of wind through dry leaves, the steady drum of rain, and the songs of birds and insects. Some times it is as quiet as a mother’s lullaby and other times it is as loud as a full orchestra in the midst of crescendo. And yet nature is never disharmonious.

“Sometimes, life slaps you in the face with beauty, screaming at you to take notice. Other times, it whispers in your ear and just suggest that you stop, look up, and take a deep breath.” -Tyler Knott Gregson-

This past summer had a rainstorm that rearranged parts of the creek for the first time in thirty years. It is incredible. Large logs are caught along the creek in the bends and some of low places are now high and dry. Other places are deep where before they were shallow. The force that took to do this is something I cannot fathom. It brings to mind a passage in Isaiah,

“A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.'” -Isaiah 40:3-5-

This is one of my favorite chapters, because it so clearly describes God’s power and glory over Creation and how he has the means to bring us up over every challenge. The past two months have managed to challenge me in many different ways and took me near to breaking, but each day was made possible through faith and love.

No, I did not step in what it looks like… I was hiking up a ridge on the edge of national park land and managed to get both feet emerged into a muddy bog area. They are always cleverly disguised under leaves and sticks and things. But yep, I managed to find myself in the darkest squishiest mud you ever could imagine. Last time that happened, I lost shoes, but luckily my boots came out with me.

I went on a couple of hikes and managed to see lots of evidence that a bear lives on my grandpa’s property – well, I really should say that I actually saw one! She was nosing around up the ridge from camp and ran off soon after I spotted her.

“What song does the wind sing when it decides to travel from where it’s been to where it is going? Why does it bless me with its melody, humming as it blows past?” -Tyler Knott Gregson-

Here is an ode to what I put these Ariat boots through…. many days of hiking, gardening, sludging through all sorts of muck and debris…. and yet they continue to survive every bit of abuse I have given them. They have proven to be a very good investment. They have protected me in the wet, from ticks and snakes, and are very comfortable. They show the patina of love now.

Thank you viewing today’s post! I hope that you have been able to enjoy a bit of fall this year. I was so glad to get away for bit to clear my head and step out of my busy crazy life.