A WALK IN THE WOODS

I had the opportunity to travel to north Alabama with a group of teens.  I almost called it a blessing.  If you have ever traveled with a group of teens you might think it should be called a curse.  But "anyhow", I went there with them and was tasked with the responsibility of being the speaker for their teen retreat. 

Pranks, fussing, wondering off when they were supposed to stay in one place, boy friends sitting too close, girl friends trying to be "too sweet", questions, thousands of questions, "When do we eat", "Do I have to sleep in the same cabin with him", "Why can't we do this" or "Why do we have to do that"...and the smell, don't teens know how to take baths?  You know what it was like.  You have probably been cursed before.

The morning I was supposed to speak, I woke up early and made my way out into the beautiful north Alabama hills.  Those of you who know me know that there is no place I'd rather be than "out" just enjoying God's beautiful creation. 

I was amazed at the huge age old trees. As the cool fall wind blew through those valleys and around those hills, the trees waved their arms in the wind as if they were saints at an old Holiness camp meeting.

There were so many colors in the forest.  Different types of trees producing different shapes and colors of leaves.  The hardwood parading their beautiful fall fashions while the evergreens refused to change their cloths and kept on their rich green garments.

The rocks, all shapes and sizes.  You could let your imagination run wild and see all sorts of creatures structures and objects as you looked at the rocks.

I stood back on the mountain side and was awe-struck at the beauty of the scene.  All the individual sights and sounds combined to make  a  mosaic of magnificence.  Each tree, rock, bush and even the old stumps contributed what they had to make the scene so surreal. 

You don't have to go to the mountains to see that sight you know.  Look across your congregation.  People that are so different.  Young babies, little "yappity" children, "I can't wait to get out of here" teen-agers, people in coats and ties, farmers in over-alls, and even a few old stumps all combine to make a montage of miracles. 

The love of God is the light that shines through their individual  idiosyncrasies and forms a beautiful rainbow.  Look at them independently and they are beautiful.  Look at them collectively and they form an even more exquisite portrait.

God really knew what He was doing when He created the world didn't He?  Whether we are talking about nature or humanity.