A Beech With a Heart

3/14/22

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.       Psalms 19:1

Roland and I took a nice long walk in our favorite patch of woods. (It doesn’t quite look like the picture  yet!) It was the first time we’ve been able to walk out there in a while and I’d forgotten how just the feel of the ground and the breeze going through the branches and the sun speckling the path relieved my depression and frustration. God, you are so good!

I know I’ve written about this patch of woods before, but it never gets old!  Season to season, heck sometimes day to day we find new things to delight our eyes and soul.  Well, with Roland it seems his favorite way to explore is with his nose.  As soon as we make our first step into the trees, his little nose is on the ground.  The same way I am amazed by the sights and sounds around me, he is captivated by the scents!  He sees through his nose and it is so funny when he finds something that he really likes.  He snorts!  I love that God made dogs so uniquely.  I love to watch him enjoy himself.  Throughout our walk, that nose never leaves the ground and he never gets tired of smelling.

I, on the other hand, am amazed by the sights, sounds, and texture of what is around me.  Late winter and early spring expose things that have been hidden before.  The wonders that God puts out there for a seeker to find are marvelous.

 AS we were walking along the path, leading to a clearing.  I heard “scree, scree” above my head.  I thought I knew that sound and looked through the leafless branches that allowed me to see above.  I glimpsed a large bird, but couldn’t make out the details of it.  I hoped it was what I thought it was.  As I moved into the clearing, THEY were easier to see.  Wings that spread out like gentle fingers.  A strong white tail.  It was a pair of eagles!  They are becoming more common around here, but it was still an amazing sight, circling up in the blue, blue sky.

Continuing on, I noticed a large beech tree.  If you have read any of my writing, you will know that the beech is my favorite tree.  Smooth silver bark and oval, ridged leaves.  Those leaves are the last to die and fall in the autumn and one of the first to bud.  They open in little tiny hands reaching to the sky.  Forgive me for sidetracking.  This tree was old with a solid grey-white trunk.  I noticed something I had never made note of before.  A heart was carved on this tree, way out in the woods where few go. If it had been in full leaf, I wouldn’t have been able to see what came next.  Because Roland’s nose pulled me onward, I couldn’t get a closer look.  What I did see was interesting.  The heart had a “K” inscribed in it.  The rest was hard to see, but it had been there a long time.  The tree had healed itself around the injury.  The scar that remained was thick and smooth.

I thought I’d had a very interesting trip, but there was more.  With God, there is always more!  I discovered another tree and fortunately, Roland had found another interesting scent so we stopped.  I was baffled by this one.  The trunk was two textures like it couldn’t make its mind up.  One was rough like a white pine; the other was the familiar smooth silver of the beech.  The trunk was divided into two at the base, but was connected horizontally farther up!  I looked up and saw the tangle continue as it reached up to the sky.  Not having any leaves, it was hard to discern what type it was.  Trees can have anomalies just like people.  God is not boring in that way.

Finally, we walked by the pond.  Small and roundish, usually not very remarkable.  Today, however, the wind blew across the water like the soft breath of God.  It felt like a caress on my face. What I saw was so beautiful.  Pulsating points of light on a dark background.  Twinkling stars on the water.  What a gift!

I walk Roland here because his nose needs a workout every day.  That is what he was made to be.  He loves his walks because his senses are engaged fully.  I could say the same for myself.  God has given me the ability to wonder at His creation.  Because of that, a small patch of woods never holds the same delights twice.  I am in wonder each time I wander through it.  Praise you God that the smallest details do not escape your notice!  Thank you for showing them to me each day!