One of my great pleasures in life is enjoying the beauty of nature. It was one of the things I loved most about running (when I was younger and in better shape) and what I love about walking now. It’s a chance for me to be good to my body and my soul! These walks give me a chance to slow down and step away from the busy rush and hustle of the everyday. In these moments, I feel the literal and figurative weight on my shoulders lift a little… I can breathe easier… and my eyes open…

There’s often this moment when I’m outside, walking in nature – a moment where I suddenly see without really seeing… it’s kind of a haze where I feel my focus being pulled and guided. I feel my very soul reverberating within me until it matches resonance with the world around me and we blend together until we are one. These walks remind me of how very small I am. I am simply a tiny speck in the grand scheme of the creator’s designs. But in these moments I feel myself as not just a small little thing, but woven into a far greater masterpiece than I can possibly comprehend!

This is why nature is my sanctuary… it is my chapel… it is where I’m reminded of who I am and where I come from. It’s the place where I find peace and solitude. It is the place that has yet to be sullied by man, and thus the place I feel the closest to Him.