Tag: nature
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Reclaiming Movement: Answering the Call of Adventure
Miles 3-5 I continue the walk. Just my thoughts, the chirring of the cicadas in the background, and the crunching of the gravel under my feet. Every now and then, I am passed by distance runners. My thigh muscles are the first sign of fatigue and become sore. I miss this feeling of achy muscles…
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The Art of Noticing: Answering the Call to Adventure
Miles 2–3 The warmth of the humidity hovers over my skin like a comforting sheet. The rough texture of our porch’s reclaimed wood grounds my feet. I sit on our outdoor couch as rain pours, hitting the wood, causing a swirl of mist to spray rhythmically around me, softly hitting my skin. Thunder plays its…
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Guide My Steps: Answering the Call to Adventure
Miles 1-2 Psalm 119:105“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (ESV) I woke up early. The night before, one of our dogs kept waking up. My Oura ring informed me that I was sleep-deprived. Regardless, I felt energized. I carried a determination I haven’t felt in a long…
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The Journey Begins: Answering the Call to Adventure
“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”— C.S. Lewis Do you ever have memories spontaneously find you? A memory surfaced of myself hiking and sliding down a hill. Another of attempting to roller blade twelve miles with…
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Beneath the Trees
Through the portal, we made our way from the city to nature’s sanctuary. As we walk, the humidity clings to our skin. I am overly aware of the mosquitoes, gnats, and flies drawn to my sweat. Even amid the battle with the winged fiends, I find myself noticing. I am vividly aware of nature surrounding…
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Fear is Not the Enemy
A black bird catches my attention, bringing me back to the present. I find myself once again in the middle of the woods. I lift my head, watching the bird in the trees, its red wing highlighting its location so I can follow it. As I walk, I find myself contemplating. Is fear really as…
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A Mountaintop Ebenezer
The last stop on our trip was Pretty Place Chapel in South Carolina. When we got married ten years ago, we talked about finding ways to continue celebrating milestones throughout our marriage. I think, as Christians, we sometimes forget that following Christ also means being a people of celebration. Throughout Scripture, God’s people are called…
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Why Places Become a Part of Us
One of our first stops on this trip was Lake Lure and Chimney Rock. If I could describe this post as anything, it would be a hopeful, lament-filled love song to both of these places. They are more than destinations to me. They have become places of respite and restoration throughout my life. These are…
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Following the Sound of Water: Exploring DuPont State Recreational Forest
We continued our trip through North and South Carolina and made our way to DuPont for more hiking. We have visited this place before and often return, too. This time, we hiked the High Falls Trail and then visited Triple Falls. We hiked this trail twice on our trip. One day, my husband and I…
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Returning to Wonder: The Awe of Grandfather Mountain
As we drove to North Carolina and the mountains came into view, I felt something deep within my body both unsettled and calm. This always happens whenever we visit my favorite part of the U.S., an unexplainable peace in anticipation of visiting wild places that have stolen my heart, places where I go to meet…
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Tending What’s Been Overgrown
If anything could represent my stress level over the last few years, it would be our front garden. Over time, I let it become overgrown and poorly cared for. This year, I am determined to see it cleaned up and healthy again. I have a mixed relationship with gardening. I love the idea of plants,…
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The Sacred Invitation of Stepping Outside
There are seasons when life doesn’t feel calm or steady. It feels loud. The kind of loud that settles into your chest and leaves your spirit tired. Lately, I’ve found myself in that kind of season. Between uncertainty, responsibilities, and the quiet weight of things, what usually grounds us can become hard to reach. During…
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Fully Alive in the Quiet of Winter
(A Winter Hiking Reflection) It’s quiet. Snow crunches under my feet. The world is still dim, and the cold air meets my face as I wait for the sun to wake. There is something deeply peaceful about being welcomed by nature. I set out this winter with a quiet intention: to look for beauty and…
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Discovering Adventure in the Ordinary
“There are seasons when the most faithful thing you can do is remain.” — Morgan Harper Nichols My current season in life doesn’t look very exciting. I find myself in the midst of a transition season. My life has consisted of showing up, so when change comes, everything is prepared. This kind of season leaves…
Inquisitive Adventures 