In the Cool of the Day

My wife and I and the pooch went for a walk late yesterday afternoon.  It was one of those iconic northern California days.  The temperature was floating around the high seventies and the afternoon coast breezes were just coming in over the hills that separate our town from the Pacific Ocean.  As we rounded the first corner from our house and walked down the driveway past the detached garages, we suddenly came upon a group of about a half a dozen little girls all asking if they could pet our dog!  Well, Mandie must have been in 7^th doggie heaven as one of the girls sighed and said, “Oh, I like that dog!”

From there we walked to the little lake near the recreation center and 2 pools in the middle of the development.  The tall pines and redwoods were swaying in the wind, the tall willows were waving their drooping branches and the small brood of Mallards and the white Goose were sleeping quietly between some rocks at the lake’s edge.  The old white Goose started out the summer by strutting his stuff and clacking at everyone who passed by, but by the beginning of August he had quieted down quite a bit and tended to mind his own business on the lawns or floating across the lake!  While our dog tended to ignore him, I would think that other neighborhood dogs were not as kind… and maybe he got the point!  (HE! HE!)

After a few laps around the lake we headed back home.  Off to our right by the outdoor basketball hoops, near a large playground and open lawn area there is an section that is landscaped to look like a dry creek bed surrounded by willowy grasses and a few Aspen and Pine trees.  It always reminds me of our favorite spot up in the Sierra’s.

As we rounded a bend in the road we came into an area near our cluster of homes that is deeply shaded by tall maples and even taller Redwoods. Directly across the street from there is the municipal golf course and the green from our neighborhood commons just seemed to go on forever as they blended right in with our eyes view of the golf course.  Then it was down another tree lined lane and up to our front door. 

Ah… another contemplative adventure in God’s great outdoors!  Isn’t God good!  When’s the last time that you took a walk with someone(s) special and enjoyed the land that our loving heavenly Father created for you to enjoy?  If your neighborhood isn’t the most picturesque place in the world, find a park, then get out of the car and walk and let God talk to you through what you see, hear, smell and feel all around you! 

As we walked in the cool of the day with God yesterday, I was reminded of a devotional I read that started out by declaring: “As you listen to birds calling to one another, hear also My Love-call to you.  I speak to you continually: through sights, sounds, thoughts, impressions, scriptures.  There is no limit to the variety of ways I can communicate with you… Search for Me and My messages, as you go through this day.” (© by 2004 Sarah Young – “Jesus Calling” Thomas Nelson Publishers)

In Jeremiah 29:13 the Lord tells us that “When you look for me, you will find me.  When you wholeheartedly seek me, I will let you find me.” (God’s Word ©)  So… put on a comfortable pair of shoes and go for a hike… looking for Him wherever you paths shall lead!  Have a great day.  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting today?”