A hooded sweatshirt,
flannel, ripped jeans, and fresh hiking boots – yeah, it was finally time for
an adventure….
Saturday, April 21st was when my hiking exploit at Blue Mounds State Park in
Luverne, Minnesota began. It actually
was the perfect hiking weather too: a solid 53 degrees, with a slight 5-10 mph
wind speed, an overcast sky. Nothing too hot nor cold. My parents (my hiking
buddies for this trip) and I were thankful for the slower wind speed
considering the environment of the state park was mostly an open prairie mixed
with a rocky outline made up of cliffs, with only a few tree-bundles available providing
shelter from a strong wind gust.
Although, because of the
late-spring bloom, the park was still recovering from its recent snow storm,
which happened only three days before we arrived. The mushy, gloomy appearance
of the park was a definitely an effect of the unwanted white dumping.
Recently, I coined a term
that I felt was appropriate for this in-between mix of winter transforming into
spring: muted beauty. Muted because it’s as if the colors of spring have been
turned to dull, with only the shades of gray and brown exposing themselves. Bare
trees, dirt brown grass, almost nonexistent wildflowers. The only thing, it
seems, that brings life to these types of days, are the birds. Their songs,
reminding us that spring is indeed still coming, as they too are preparing for
its arrival. I even wrote a poem on the topic, using the joyful (and colorful,
I might add) birds as a metaphor of Jesus providing us new life (Spring)
everyday within our sinful lives (the bare/muted environment).
However, as I hiked
through the park, thinking of how this too reminded me of a muted beauty, I
realized that the splendor was not at all muted because God had created it. I
just wasn’t being as observant as I thought I was; for true loveliness was
actually all around me (actually around all of us) every day – by the grace of God.
For example, my parents
and I were able to walk up to the cliffs that Blue Mounds is known for: the
colored rocks a mix of faded red, pink, to a rusty white. But it was within the
crevices of these cliffs that I found to be amazing. (Honestly, I felt like a
mini rock climber or explorer climbing around them.) Inside the crevices, I could
see the evidence of past (or present) homes for a variety of animals, such as
birds or ground mammals. But, I actually saw the most beauty from the one thing
that is unwanted during this time of year – snow. As it was melting from the fifty-degree
weather, the water was streaming down from the top of the cliffs, all the way
to my feet, where it even created a little brook. It felt like I was inside a
mini cave – a combination of peace and exquisiteness. All I could say was: “Wow.
God this is an awesome experience you’re giving me.”
Additionally, for those of you who don’t
know, I’m currently double majoring in Ecological Science and Writing and
Rhetoric. And, what’s great those majors is that I’m able to learn about nature
– the root of my hiking adventures, and the one environment where I can truly feel
God’s presence and be closer to him. (You can probably guess what the Writing
major is for.) Currently, I’m taking an Avian Ecology class where I have to
learn the taxonomic groupings of various species of birds by physical
appearance as well as their songs, in addition to their behavior, such as
mating, parental care, or nest building.
My knowledge about birds
was especially challenged as Blue Mounds State Park is home to many different
species of birds. I actually “geeked-out” a little when I confidently
identified a Western Meadowlark by its song. Actually, my thoughts raced from “I
can’t believe I remembered this bird” to “my education is actually paying off!”
Moreover, I was super proud of my achievement.
Another cool bird moment
I witnessed was watching (what I think was a grebe?) take off along the river
that’s within the park. What’s so interesting about this moment is that grebes
have to physically run across/on top of the water in order to gain enough speed
to take off and fly, which by the way, is totally better watching in person
than on a YouTube video.
Finally, one moment where
I saw God on this hiking trip was while walking on a bike trail. My parents and
I came up to a section that was surrounded by trees. Within these trees were
many birds, all calling to one another. It was so loud that it was even hard
for me to hear myself talk. But, knowing that God created all those birds individually,
as well as their songs, formed another wow moment for me.
Overall, this hiking trip
made my heart full by witnessing the different aspects of creation that God made.
From the Turkey Vultures flying close overhead (so close that I could easily point
out their rounded wing shape to my parents) to the baby plants sprouting among the paths. Moreover, I know that with each hiking trip I do, God will continue to awe me with
his magnificent creation.
