SIT in the woods

  Sometimes the metaphorical words of the prophets are literally true. "He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul."

  As I continue my TESOL studies at SIT Graduate Institute in Vermont, I felt the need for some quiet and aloneness this morning and went for a walk. I have a conference presentation to prepare, but first some internal re-balancing was needed.

the beavers' home and their gnawed tree trunk
I missed the dam the first time I stood beside it but noticed it on my return. 

   A turtle friend, in the middle of the path, was the first creature to draw me into this less-humanized environment. 

  After that, there was a continual stream of critters and creatures proclaiming a beautiful world that does not require mechanical noises and busyness and digital connectedness to display its reflecting glory.  The splashing leaps of a deer from the pond, the sudden, unexpected twinkle of a goldfinch springing from spot to spot into the distance, the dew on the woven webs of spiders, and the fascination of seeing a bird which I couldn't identify - all these were restorative and quieting.

the bumblebee and its clover

the monarch in a momentary resting spot

  Nature with all her beauty is a gift, though the greater gift is the friendships and mentorship of the beautiful people from the far corners of the world who come to this school to learn and grow and share together. 

  To paraphrase David, it is certain that goodness and steadfast love will pursue me every day of my life until I dwell in the Lord's house forever.

the Scariest Sign in America (when driving at dusk)

  About ten miles outside of Denver, there is a sign. For an Elk Crossing. 

  I wanted to take an actual picture of it when we passed it on our trip, but we missed our chance... because we were frantically scanning the underbrush for elks. (I know, that's not the plural of elk.) Anyways, I used to drive a smallish Nissan Altima, or other similarly sized cars.  Imagine how one of these monstrous deer would shatter such my poor dear car if we were to smack one while they were 'crossing' the highway at 70mph. No bueno! 
 Thankfully, a friend loaned us an SUV this time, hoping it would help us surviving an elking, I think. Presumably it would have, but it didn't lower the residual stress any.

 Needless to say, I always have, and presumably always will, consider the Elk Crossing sign to be the scariest road sign in America... except for possibly, the Moose Crossing sign, which I have yet to see, thankfully.