Exploring on the banks.............

Nature
By H.D. Carberry
We have neither Summer nor Winter,
neither Autumn nor Spring

We have instead days
When Gold sun shines on the lush green cane fields
Magnificently

The days when the rain beats like bullets on the roofs
And there is no sound but the swish of water in the gullies
And trees struggling in the high Jamaica winds.



Also there are days when the leaves fade from the guango trees
And the reaped cornfields lie bare in the fallow sun.

But best of all there are days when the mango and the logwood blossom

When the bushes are full of the sound of bees and the scent of honey,
When the tall grass sways and shivers to the slightest breath of air.

When the buttercups have paved the earth with yellow stars,
And beauty comes suddenly and the rains have gone.


We have been enjoying our time in between thunderstorms and we did some exploring nearby this week on the banks of the canal behind our home. The children did some fishing and some time enjoying nature. You can find nature no matter where you live. You just have to look for it. Our family has been blessed to live near some of the most amazing of Gods earthly masterpieces we have lived in Alaska where we enjoyed the majesty of huge mountain peaks in the land of the midnight sun. We have lived in Niagara Falls where we have walked on old indian trails and ran around catching garter snakes in the summer sun while listening to thundering waterfalls.



And now we live in Florida where the nature is often tucked away into little pockets within the city. This canal near our home is a beautiful place to explore hidden away next to the turnpike people drive by it everyday without a second glance.



It is a secret garden hoping to be found. It is waiting for someone to sit awhile and allow the reflection of the glistening canal to shine on their face with beams of sunlight mirrored off its dark surface. And on the banks all sorts of adventures are waiting to happen. A dragon fly wishes to be admired. A turtle would like to be fed. Large and hungry fish are waiting to play tag with you as they snag your bait and quickly swim away with the prize and your line is empty. All sorts of birds tucked away in the trees waiting to see if you can guess the song they are singing.
And this is the Florida that we have found.


Psalm 96:1-6
"Sing to the LORD a new song;
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
3 Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
4 For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary."