SEPT 22 - Apple Tree - Thinking Outdoors

Thinking Outdoors

Media

SEPT 22 - Apple Tree

RECREATION: Biking, Running, Hunting, Gardening RELATED WORD: Fruit

Song of Songs 2:3–5, Song of Songs 7:8, Song of Songs 8:5

Give

An autumn apple tree with ripe red apples is a wonderful find. Not only does an apple taste so good, but apple trees are truly a beautiful sight. The apple tree laden with apples is full of emblematic meaning.

SEPT 1 - River

Isaiah 48:18, Isaiah 66:12, Isaiah 33:21, Acts 16:13

Rivers cascade with emblematic (symbolic) meaning. Likely, there is a river not too far away from your home. My hometown where I grew up was along the Genesee River in NY. My home river for the past 22 years has been the Youghiogheny River (the Yough – pronounced “Yock”) in PA. What do you consider your home river? Have you sat along its banks? Have you canoed it, rafted it, swam in it? Have you fished its waters? Have you explored its emblematic (symbolic) meanings? Go, take a trip to your home river and look, listen, and learn something of what God has to say through this glorious element of creation.

SEPT 2 - Trees

Psalm 1:3, Jeremiah 17:7–8, 1 Peter 2:24, Daniel 4:10–12

Trees are one of the loudest elements in all creation. By loudest, I don’t mean volume in decibels. What I mean is that trees are a prolific emblem all throughout the Scriptures. There are few other elements in God’s creation that even come close to matching the number of ways that trees speak. Just the smallest amount of contemplation can produce numerous reflections on how trees speak about God and humanity. Take some time to go and reflect on a tree—journal all the ways you can think of that the tree in front of you is emblematic.

SEPT 19 - Mist / Fog

September 19, 2021 • Isaiah 44:22, Jeremiah 10:13, Jeremiah 51:16, Proverbs 21:6, Hosea 13:3

September is a great time to encounter mist as it rises off of lakes and rivers on those cold autumn mornings. Going for an early morning paddle in a kayak, canoe, or some other watercraft is a wonderful way to encounter mist. A sunrise fishing excursion is another means of meditating upon mist. ADDITIONAL VERSES - Acts 2:19, Acts 13:11-12, James 4:14, 2 Peter 2:17