The past two weekends I, Katie, have had significant time to savor being in nature. There has always been something so special about being in God’s creation that helps me connect on a deeper level with God. Whether it is a hike in the forrest, sitting quietly near a stream, watching the waves of the ocean, observing the butterflies as they get their nourishment from the flowers – it settles me and creates a sense of wonder. While I love living in a city, there are times it takes its toll, with all it’s noise, pollution, non-stop traffic, and distractions. I discovered long ago that to maintain a sense of centeredness, a sense of calm, spending time in God’s creation is a necessity (If only you could hear all the noise outside of our house as I type this entry – drilling from the construction site behind us, an alarm of some sort going off…so much noise)

Monday of last week was a holiday and we joined a group of youth from Fuente de Salvacion Covenant Church for a hike. We took the bus out of the city, past the downtown center of Caldas. We got off the bus and walked about 3 kilometers to a place called La Clara, where the hike started. There was a small river and lots of “charcos” (pools of fresh water) where people were swimming and playing. I couldn’t believe it when Juan Felipe, the youth leader, told me it was the Medellin River. The Medellin River runs through the middle of the city and is constantly brown and dirty. It’s not pleasant to look at.  It was hard for me to imagine that this was the same river, so clean. The hike took us closer to where the Medellin River starts. We walked through forests, along the river bed, through muddy fields. It reminded me of the Boundary Waters and the different portages. It was challenging to walk on the muddy rocks and under and over branches. The beauty around us was breath-taking. And the air was so fresh and clean.

I had the opportunity to chat with different people as we walked. What a joy to get to hear more deeply about people’s lives and the way God is at work. Too often it’s no more than a “How are you?” “I’m well” type of conversation as the time is short. After an hour or so of hiking we found a place to cross the river and set up on some green grass. There we rested, played games, sang, talked about how we were experiencing God, ate our lunches. I’m so glad our whole family could experience it together. We were physically wiped by the time we got on the bus to go home. Yet, at the same time we were energized and relaxed.

This past weekend was another gift, as I was able to engage in a spiritual practice that has also helped keep me rooted in my relationship with God, others, creation. I went on at 24 hour retreat with a dear friend and we stayed in a huge ecological park. Once again, I savored quiet. I savored the opportunity to walk and explore different paths. I enjoyed a butterfly garden, filled with such beauty. I journaled and prayed and had soul conversation with a friend.

As I read Scripture I was drawn to Isaiah 41:18-20

I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
    and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water,
    and the parched ground into springs.
¹⁹ I will put in the desert
    the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set junipers in the wasteland,
    the fir and the cypress together,
²⁰ so that people may see and know,
    may consider and understand,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
    that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

How good God’s creation is! And how true that speaks so loudly to the love of God, causing a response of worship. I pray that you find time to experience God through God’s creation. May it nourish you and may it spur you on to worship and a deep commitment to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us.