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 1 - River
RECREATION: Boating, Fishing RELATED WORDS: Tributary, Waterway, Water
Isaiah 48:18, Isaiah 66:12, Isaiah 33:21, Acts 16:13
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
SEPT 20 - Thunder
Job 36:29—37:5, Psalm 29, Revelation 11:16–19, Exodus 9:23–29, 2 Samuel 22:8–14
You cannot capture thunder in a photo, and its partner, lightning, is very difficult to capture in a picture. Thunder sure does capture our attention though. Listening to a late summer thunderstorm and the cracking boom of a thunderbolt arrests our attention. For many people, the sound of thunder evokes fear and trembling. Certainly, I am not going to recommend that you get outdoors to go golfing, boating, or hiking on a ridge during a thunderstorm. However, next time there is a thunderstorm, do not ignore it. Go to the window, pull the car over for a bit, or sit out on the porch and take in the sounds of thunder. Close your eyes and just listen. Then, take some time to meditate upon the powerful emblem of thunder.