I went for a hike with a friend today and enjoyed being outdoors in the beauty of nature. At one point we were up pretty high and overlooked a large portion of the foothills. It has been very dry here, but also very warm and many of the trees and bushes have already started to bud and bloom. On the other hand, most of the grass is still brown. From our view, there was a beautiful array of colors: tans from the dry areas, light greens from the new budding trees, dark greens from the evergreens, reds and oranges from the rocky outcrops. Then there was the mountain which hasn’t received enough moisture this year, so instead of a snowcapped peak it was laced with white contours in areas that didn’t get much direct sunlight. My friend lived in flatlands for most of her life and just loves being outdoors. As we looked over our view, she said she wondered how anyone can see such beauty and not believe in God. It was a blessing and a joy to be with someone who was so enthusiastic and appreciative of the world around us.

I Found God today in nature and an appreciative friend.