Shade Tree Wisdom 3/19/13

          Yesterday morning while we were having breakfast we saw a deer come drifting along, browsing on early spring growth. He did not seem bothered by noisy traffic passing by 75 feet away through the trees, nor did our moving in our kitchen seem to bother him, he just moved along browsing contentedly. So much so that this morning he brought a buddy along, both maybe half grown, and this morning they spent maybe ten minutes browsing on an early blooming bush, before disappearing in the trees. 

          50 years ago they had this patch of forest to themselves. I guess it shows we do adjust, find different ways and better solutions. And that brings into play what I was reading about yesterday. How do you spend your vacation. 

          The WSJ offers several options. One would be to hike in one of our national parks. Just by way, Ruth and I spent several weeks in company with a son and daughter-in-law exploring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. It was a wonderful, relaxing time and made us more aware of the pioneer way of life. 

          Other options include adult camps at Interlochen in northern Michigan, for instance, for those who enjoy singing, the camp offers 4.5 hours of practice and work each day. 

          The Wooden Boats School in Brooklin, Maine offers 100 one and two week classes where students can build their own kayak, canoe, or row boat.

          There is also a bird watching camp on Hog Island in Maine, a wild life sanctuary. This offers hiking, clearing invasive growth from nesting places. Bird watching, lectures, and taking a bird census. 

          May I add such things as a week of study at one of the many seminars offered at our Universities and Seminaries. 

          Then, why not take time to really study a section of Scripture which leads you to be able to say, with Psalm 119,11 “Your Word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.” 

          And a final note. Shut off the phone! 

GPD 3/19/13