Connect with Nature
Quotes #1
Some people complain that God put thorns on roses, while others praise Him for putting roses on thorns.
—Anonymous
Just living is not enough. ... One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
—Hans Christian Andersen
There are always flowers for those who want to see them.
—Henri Matisse
All nature wears one universal grin.
—Henry Fielding
Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
—Langston Hughes
To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.
—Jane Austen
Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
—George Eliot
—Anonymous
Just living is not enough. ... One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
—Hans Christian Andersen
There are always flowers for those who want to see them.
—Henri Matisse
All nature wears one universal grin.
—Henry Fielding
Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
—Langston Hughes
To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.
—Jane Austen
Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
—George Eliot
His Message
His Message; Your Voice
Shadia Hrichi
The air was crisp when I ventured out early one morning to walk Mount Hermon’s Sequoia Trail. Two days had passed at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference and I was eager to spend some time alone with my Lord, listening for His voice. I walked about a quarter mile among the beautiful redwoods before stopping to rest on a wooden bench. A bird chirped above me in the trees while gentle waters rolled across the rocks in a stream below.
Just then I sensed God say to me, “Close your eyes and listen.” So I did. “How many birds do you hear?”
Up to this point, I had been aware of only two birds, one chirping above me and another off to my right. I closed my eyes and listened. Immediately, I heard a songbird behind me. Had it been singing all along? Then something resembling “hoot, hoot” echoed high above the branches. Somewhere in the distance, a dove cooed. I began to count. Two ... three ... four ... Then down below a duck intruded on the chorus with an abrupt quack! ... Seven! I count seven, Lord!
Wow! When my eyes were open, I only noticed two. How cool, I thought. Such variety! I chuckled as my mind wandered to my writing. Praying silently, I mused, Which sound am I, Lord? The duck?
I sensed God’s smile. “Your voice, my child, is still unheard.” I bowed my head, surrendering to His will. Then I heard Him continue, “But one day it will be.”
What an encouragement!
I once read an article that explained that, just like fingerprints, every human being has a distinct voice pattern. Who knew? Our God is so creative! He created each one of us for a purpose. In fact, God has strategically gifted and placed YOU in this world to be His witness. When you surrender all of yourself to God—your ministry, your hopes, your dreams—you can trust that in His perfect timing, He will use it all for the glory of His Name.
Shadia Hrichi
The air was crisp when I ventured out early one morning to walk Mount Hermon’s Sequoia Trail. Two days had passed at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference and I was eager to spend some time alone with my Lord, listening for His voice. I walked about a quarter mile among the beautiful redwoods before stopping to rest on a wooden bench. A bird chirped above me in the trees while gentle waters rolled across the rocks in a stream below.
Just then I sensed God say to me, “Close your eyes and listen.” So I did. “How many birds do you hear?”
Up to this point, I had been aware of only two birds, one chirping above me and another off to my right. I closed my eyes and listened. Immediately, I heard a songbird behind me. Had it been singing all along? Then something resembling “hoot, hoot” echoed high above the branches. Somewhere in the distance, a dove cooed. I began to count. Two ... three ... four ... Then down below a duck intruded on the chorus with an abrupt quack! ... Seven! I count seven, Lord!
Wow! When my eyes were open, I only noticed two. How cool, I thought. Such variety! I chuckled as my mind wandered to my writing. Praying silently, I mused, Which sound am I, Lord? The duck?
I sensed God’s smile. “Your voice, my child, is still unheard.” I bowed my head, surrendering to His will. Then I heard Him continue, “But one day it will be.”
What an encouragement!
I once read an article that explained that, just like fingerprints, every human being has a distinct voice pattern. Who knew? Our God is so creative! He created each one of us for a purpose. In fact, God has strategically gifted and placed YOU in this world to be His witness. When you surrender all of yourself to God—your ministry, your hopes, your dreams—you can trust that in His perfect timing, He will use it all for the glory of His Name.
Quotes #2
Yesterday, the sun went hence, and yet here it is today.
—John Donne
Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures new.
—John Milton
It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses we must plant more trees.
—George Eliot
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.
—Marcus Tullius Cicero
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
—Albert Einstein
—John Donne
Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures new.
—John Milton
It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses we must plant more trees.
—George Eliot
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.
—Marcus Tullius Cicero
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
—Albert Einstein
Reflection Prompts
Do you look deep into nature for inspiration in your writing?
Does nature help you understand things better, or does it raise more questions than answers?
What are those questions?
What inspires you in nature?
A flower, a tree, a storm?
A babbling brook?
The crashing ocean?
Take a walk in nature and take a notebook with you. If you’re not a poet, see if anything inspires you to write a poem. If you are a poet, see if something inspires a short story or an essay. Step into nature and out of your comfort zone.
Does nature help you understand things better, or does it raise more questions than answers?
What are those questions?
What inspires you in nature?
A flower, a tree, a storm?
A babbling brook?
The crashing ocean?
Take a walk in nature and take a notebook with you. If you’re not a poet, see if anything inspires you to write a poem. If you are a poet, see if something inspires a short story or an essay. Step into nature and out of your comfort zone.
Quotes #3
Sunset is still my favorite color, and rainbow is second.
—Mattie Stepanek
When you have seen one ant, one bird, one tree, you have not seen them all.
—E. O. Wilson
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.
—Edward Abbey
Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.
—Martin Luther
In the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.
—Martin Luther
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.
—Aristotle
The Amen of nature is always a flower.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries.
—Jimmy Carter
The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.
—E. E. Cummings
—Mattie Stepanek
When you have seen one ant, one bird, one tree, you have not seen them all.
—E. O. Wilson
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.
—Edward Abbey
Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.
—Martin Luther
In the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.
—Martin Luther
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.
—Aristotle
The Amen of nature is always a flower.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries.
—Jimmy Carter
The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.
—E. E. Cummings
Poem
A Light Exists in Spring
A Light exists in Spring
Not present on the Year
At any other period—
When March is scarcely here.
A Color stands abroad
On Solitary Fields
That Science cannot overtake
But Human Nature feels.
It waits upon the Lawn,
It shows the furthest Tree.
Upon the furthest Slope you know
It almost speaks to you.
Then as Horizons step
Or Noons report away,
Without the Formula of sound
It passes and we stay.
A quality of loss
Affecting our Content
As Trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a Sacrament.
Emily Dickinson
A Light exists in Spring
Not present on the Year
At any other period—
When March is scarcely here.
A Color stands abroad
On Solitary Fields
That Science cannot overtake
But Human Nature feels.
It waits upon the Lawn,
It shows the furthest Tree.
Upon the furthest Slope you know
It almost speaks to you.
Then as Horizons step
Or Noons report away,
Without the Formula of sound
It passes and we stay.
A quality of loss
Affecting our Content
As Trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a Sacrament.
Emily Dickinson
His Eye Is on the Sparrow lyrics
His Eye Is on the Sparrow
Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant Friend is He.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free.
For his eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,”
His tender word I hear,
And resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears.
Though by the path he leadeth,
But one step I may see.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me.
Whenever I am tempted,
Whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing,
When hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to him;
From care he sets me free.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me.
Civilla D. Martin
Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant Friend is He.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free.
For his eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,”
His tender word I hear,
And resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears.
Though by the path he leadeth,
But one step I may see.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me.
Whenever I am tempted,
Whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing,
When hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to him;
From care he sets me free.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me.
Civilla D. Martin
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