Into the Woods
Last week I was sent into the woods of Georgia.
Myself, my big heavy pack, and seven other people were dropped off on the border of South Carolina to hike ten miles into the wilderness for a total of four days. We were mostly silent as we hiked and thought about different questions. At night we would make camp with a tarp and cook dinner over a fire. Watching for shooting stars was how we fell asleep.
On day three we began a period of twenty-four hours of alone time to talk to God. The introvert in me was thrilled to hear about this. A whole day and night by myself? In nature? Yes! Hallelujah.
However, I found it to be a little harder than I would have thought.
It started out great. I made camp with my hammock in the trees next to a river. The rushing water, the wind blowing in the trees, the birds flying to and fro…it was beautiful.
And then I started praying and asking for God to speak to me.
And I waited.
And waited.
I’m not really sure what I was expecting to happen. Maybe for an angel to show up and start talking to me. Something undeniably and unavoidably from God.
But an angel didn’t show up at my camps door.
What did come was peace.
Moments that turned into hours where I stared at the leaves blowing in the wind and watched a leaf fall from the top of the canopy all the way to the ground. Or watched the swirling river until I was able to distinguish which ripples were the current, the fish, or the insects. Tiny lizards scurried under me. Butterflies flew past me.
I watched the sun go completely from one side of the sky to the other for the first time in my life.
And what came out of that was awe.
Awe for a God so creative and talented that He would make all these things. This beautiful scene in front of me. The intricate detail that goes into every aspect amazes me. He didn’t have to make these things so incredibly beautiful, but that’s just who He is.
It wasn’t until this point hit home that He started to work with me on other issues.
Sometimes we just need to be quiet so that we can hear.
