TRAILS – Page 20 – Skelton Sketches

The Little Things…

Posted on March 25, 2011April 27, 2017 by lindaskelton

Sometimes it’s the little things in life that lift our spirits… And that dogged determination to do what we’ve committed to on days we’d rather not, that helps too. So, did I say I was going to make a point to hike up Scout once a week? That once-a-week stuff comes around awful quickly. Anyway, there’s more than one way to get up Scout, so for variety I came up from another angle following the Sunshine Coast Trail…

…and here’s what I found…

…wild currant bushes creeping into bloom.

Catching some sun on a mossy (wet seat, oops!) clearing I had time not only to vent some frustrations to the Maker of Creation but to stop and look at His gifts to me this day…unseen gifts of continuing grace and faithfulness… and little tiny beautiful things with texture and color and life…

(Doesn’t this drop look like a little earring? My apologies for the lack of focus…)

The Moss is all excited about spring—putting out bouquets underfoot…

Surely God cares about the little things that seem so big to me for He makes even the tiny things beautiful. And here it is, beauty springing up underfoot when I take time to look.

‘He has made everything beautiful in its time.’ Eccl.3:11

–LS

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”—Lk.12:28

Green on Blue

Posted on March 5, 2011April 27, 2017 by lindaskelton

Well, the climbing muscles just aren’t what they used to be. Our little Scout has become more of a breathless hurdle than it should be, so I’m thinking that getting up there once a week would be good for both body and soul. I took the opportunity Monday to do it in the company of sunshine.

Nothing particularly new here but the snatches of snow in shady spots. The sun was glorious though and this time I had an unexpected visit at the top with another solo woman hiker. We chatted of trails and bears and cougars and our common choice to hike despite the potential danger, just for the love of it. She said she would just as soon be killed by a cougar as a car. Hmm…not sure I’m into either option.

There’s something artistic about these little manzanita bushes with their peeling bark and cinnamon colored skin…

and green on blue is always lovely. Thankfully, the arbutus has kept her leaves all winter.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water,…[which] does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green…” (Jer.17:7,8)

Blessings on your climbs and reposes in the SON this week. May your leaves remain green and your roots be well-watered .

Till next time,
–LS

Ambling by the Sea

Posted on February 12, 2011April 28, 2017 by lindaskelton

I’ve been looking for color, something other than green, when I walk. Thanks to God for berries that stay for the winter to brighten an otherwise drab landscape…

I ambled down to the rocks beside the sea yesterday afternoon. It’s been a while and this is one of my favorite walks– besides being considerably aerobic on the return back UP to the Wildwood where we live…

This eagle glided in for a closer scrutiny at my invasion of his kingdom…

I’ve always loved to clamber on rocks. They seem so fitting here, so rugged beside the wild sea…

Wild and yet serene in this protected strait, beneath an always changing kaleidoscope of glory…

Mighty firs are hard to capture no matter what the lens. The path runs along under their canopy just above the edge of the sea…

If you can keep your eyes on the glory beyond, the tangly thickets in the way don’t much matter. There’s a life lesson there somewhere…

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” II Cor.4:18

–LS