A Change of Perspective

Last weekend Ellie and I took a backpacking trip near Pine Grove Furnace State Park. It was a lot of work, but I'm so glad we did it!

We met a few characters on the overnight trip, learned a few things, missed Theo (who camped out at my Mom's house) and the dogs (who stayed with my in-laws), and saw some killer views. But what has stuck with me most has been the way our minds shifted gear as we spent hours walking through the forest.

Have you ever noticed how tree trunks are often more gray than brown? How loud bugs can be? That two people can perceive the same object as being slightly different colors? That the body creates blisters as a last line of defense against friction?

There was something about hiking at a steady rhythm that led us down some interesting, fun conversational paths - nothing really deep, exactly, just different. As we removed ourselves further and further from our normal environment and rhythm, we our conversation departed more and more from usual ruts like, "What's for dinner?" "Who will Rob Lowe wind up with on Parks and Rec?" and "Why is Donald Trump still around?"

Important questions to be sure, but it was sheer delight to get away from dining plans, mindless TV, and the death of American democracy for a few days and focus on things like the gorgeousness of God's green earth, the song creation sings to its creator, and the soreness, sweat, and joy that comes with being embodied image-bearers of our heavenly father.

I'd like to spend more time outside with my wife. To explore new trains of thought. To raise my boy to appreciate beauty and be curious about the one who made it.

Father God, thank you for making the world well and good.

Your craftsmanship inspires me to make things of beauty and usefulness,

and I hope to become more like you in that.

Son Jesus, we appreciate you setting us free from sin.

Help us reject our tendency toward fear and self-defensiveness,

leading us instead to green meadows fit for rest and not anxiety.

Holy Spirit, we're grateful for the awareness you give us of what's normally unseen.

Please draw us more often and deeply into the mystery and beauty of what you've made,

that we might bless you all the more fully for what you've done.

In your triune name, Father, Son, and Spirit,

Amen.