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Sheltered

May 14, 2014

By Tineke Ziemer

May 14^th, 2014

the scent of pine needles

I left my shoes in the house and went for a walk today. I feel so much more connected to God’s creation when I can feel the earth beneath my feet. The kids were playing outside and Mikayla took me to see her fort in the trees.
We walked through the bush to the back of our property.

“This is the entrance,” she said as she pushed aside some pine boughs and disappeared behind them. I followed her in to see where she was clearing away some branches and brush and creating her own little haven under the trees.
The scent of pine was in the air and the outside world seemed far away from us.

I have always felt most safe under the trees, sheltered from the rest of life, comforted by glimpses of light appearing through the branches above me. I have spent some of my troubled times under trees, praying, crying, feeling closer to God. There is something in the way a tree spreads its branches that allows me to feel that I am reaching nearer to my Saviour and that I’m nestled in His care. Funny how certain things do that.

My daughter is the same way. In school this year she wrote that she feels most safe when she’s up in a tree, above the world, out of sight. That’s where she goes to think and pray. I love that we share something so deeply and spiritually significant. Today in the fort, I shared with her the memory of my childhood days, creating my own houses under the trees, sweeping the ground with pine boughs until it was smooth and clear. Precious memories.

Thought for the Day

I simply feel thankful. Thankful that we live in a country where there are many beautiful trees and fresh air and a beautiful stretch of “wilderness” in my own back yard. Thankful that I can walk barefoot, feel the spring grass under my toes and breathe in the scent of pine needles.