On a day when things weighed heavy on my heart and shoulders,
I knew just where to go to find peace . . .
the woods.
I can wander along and completely tune out life's cares by listening to my footsteps on soft pine needles, hearing the birds chirping, the wind whispering through the trees, and the squirrels scampering through the woods.
I was listening, but not really focusing on what was around me, when out of the corner of my eye I spotted an unusual tree. What caught my attention was the color of the inside wood that was revealed by peeling bark. It was a sycamore tree. My mom has three sycamore trees in her yard, but when the bark peals on those trees the inner woods is shades of white and ecru. This tree looked like it was wearing camouflage on the inside!
Off the trail I went to get a closer look. I walked around and around the tree, touching the rough bark, and taking a few pictures. That's when I spotted the heart. I am a firm believer that God brings pleasure to us through his creation. When I see hearts in nature I start to smile and my heart warms. I know it's a gift from God to me. Yes, to me! You see, no on else wanders in these woods but me.
For the rest of my walk I focused on bark; so many colors, so many patterns, so much texture.
It seemed that on this day I needed an extra dose of love. I found more that one heart in the woods. The second one was a small one hidden in the bumpy bark. Do you see it in the upper left third of the photo below?
It really doesn't take much to make me happy. A walk in the woods will do it every time. There I find peace, quiet, stillness, and sometimes I find a message from God; a little surprise that I stumble upon for my pleasure.
