Category: Nature

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Book quotes, Faith, Nature, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks, Trust

The Red-shouldered Hawk

There is a red-shouldered hawk who inhabits our neighborhood. Some days I hear it screaming high above the earth as it flies in the sunlit sky. Sometimes it blasts like a rocket silently between the houses and the hedgerows. This morning I was hearing it. The Merlin app identified it for certain by its call. Then most surprisingly as I was trying to formulate words around a quote, unbelievably, the same hawk was perched on a sunlit branch right outside my window, looking at me in my prayer chair, the sun at times reflecting on its black, shiny eye. I was stunned. The smaller birds were going nuts trying to send out alarm calls to their brethren. I sat shocked into stillness and blessed.

my not very good photo
same photo cropped

photo from online

For Dubois, hawks symbolize the ability to rise above our earthly realm and view life from a higher vantage point: “Hawks soar far above and take in the whole landscape from above. They have great eyes and are adept at spotting movements of prey.”

In other words, hawks see the bigger picture that we often miss from our limited view on the ground. “As a symbol, a hawk is a reminder to see the world from thirty yards above; to see the big picture,” Dubois explains. Encountering a hawk invites us to similarly elevate our perspective.

What Does the Bible Say About Hawks?

Dubois also notes the hawk’s significance in biblical texts. “From a Biblical perspective, a hawk is a symbol of divine guidance and that we are being watched out for from above. It is a call to seek God’s wisdom and guidance in our lives.”

God asks Job in Job 39:26, “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread its wings toward the south?”  

So within Judeo-Christian tradition, the hawk represents a watchful presence guiding us from above and urging us to tap into divine wisdom. https://parade.com/living/hawk-spiritual-meaning-symbolism

The quote I was working with read “The pathless path of prayer knows only how to move through struggle; and the only way through is through – not around, over, under or alongside, but through.” A Sunlit Absence by Martin Laird P. 123

Struggle – with chronic fatigue and pain, not knowing how to fulfill the call to create something else with the writing, how to ….

Later I did my morning challenging walk. As I returned down a street near us there was a red-shouldered hawk sitting atop someone’s garage. As I watched another red-shouldered hawk flew right past it into the tree line.

Lord, You are my flying bird, my guidance, my hope and my salvation. I trust in You. Show me Your path through these struggles. Grant me Your view from on high. Your are the watchful Presence guiding me and (as Dubois says) urging me to turn to Your divine wisdom. Continue to teach me how to turn to You and I will be careful to give You all of the glory. Amen.

Posted on in Art, Beagle, Faith, Humor, Nature, Praise, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks

For Freedom

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV

In Hinds Feet on High Places Much-Afraid calls her Shepherd too preposterously absurd, adding “Whatever will you do next?” What has the Shepherd done in your life that is preposterously absurd? Can you look back and see the nail-scarred hand at work in your life adding amazing delight and surprise?

One dominant yoke of slavery right now across all areas of America seems to be anxiety and depression. Are you willing to try, as we celebrate this day of freedom, try to see the good situations or gifts this in life that are all around you and just waiting for your attention?

If you read my posts with any regularity you likely know that one of my favorite sources of joy is our dog, Lucky. When we first adopted her from the shelter someone told we a good way to indicate to her that it was bedtime was to give her a natural hollow bone with a small treat inside. I bought the smallest bones I could find. They usually are sold overstuffed with some inedible looking stuff. Since she had many teeth pulled before she came to us I would dig out the factory stuff and make a treat for her or stuff the bone with a small piece of hot dog (her favorite). This has become a bedtime ritual. I have her sit and wait patiently, (Ha!) She is told to keep the bone on her ‘blankey.’ I do not want treat or hot dog on the carpet every night. She eats her treat and goes to sleep.

When you were a child did you ever wait for the tooth fairy to put a coin under your pillow in exchange for a lost tooth? The other morning I saw the photo below.

I laughed out loud wondering if Lucky was waiting for the dog fairy to refill the bone for her! Obviously she did not keep it on the blankey the night before!

I also laughed when I saw this bachelor button in the garden. These are true blue flowers. Last winter was so mild here that the root survived the freezing season and brought us flowers almost immediately in the spring. The root on top of the ground is about the size of my thumb! The branch below is just a tiny sampling of the plant.

The buttons do not have pink centers, at least until they are very old and almost going to seed. This one was fairly fresh. That is a tiny pink moth or butterfly resting in the center!

In times of peace and in times of war children find ways to play. Poor or wealthy their imaginations are free. Seeing this recently at the art museum just reminded me that children are free in ways that adults forget to be. {After much research Bob was able to help me find the information on the photograph. I usually take a photo of that when we are in a museum. I did not that day. 😦 } In 1933, Seville, Spain Henri Cartier-Bresson took this photo. the website https://www.theartstory.org/artist/cartier-bresson-henri/ says

This photograph captures a group of children playing in the rubble in Seville, Spain. Framed by the empty, bombed-out section of a wall, the children interact joyfully and uninhibitedly among the ruins and desolation, in a space that is profoundly unchildlike. They are completely unaware that they are being observed. The ragged edges of the white, stuccoed wall could just as easily be the very surface of the photograph tearing open and inviting the viewer to look on undiscovered. The ambiguity of the picture space is a testament to Cartier-Bresson’s engagement with Surrealism, of which visual puzzles were a major feature.

There seems to be one adult there, the woman on the right with the basket. She looks like the only one who might not be free among the group.

“It is for freedom that Christ set us free.” Regardless of your politics God wants you free. Give the Holy Trinity your chains and afflictions. There is almighty power among them to set you free.

Posted on in Aging, Amazing Creations, Beagle, Faith, Nature, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Thanks, Trust

July? Already?!?

Wow. Mom said time goes faster as you get older. I hardly believed her then. Now I know it is oh so true. Do you have things you do daily and feel at times as if you ‘meet yourself coming and going’? I certainly do!

Bob often laments that we do not live someplace such as New Mexico where they have “Big sky,” meaning vast expanses where you can seemingly see forever. Walking out the door last evening to take the dog for her after supper constitutional I looked up and experienced our version of ‘big sky.” Oh those clouds and the heavens seem vast!!

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world. Psalm 19:1-4 NIV

We had a 24 hour break from the dreaded heat and humidity that has plagued the US. The air was so clear and felt breathable. Today will be a return to the 90s and rising humidity. The relief of that one day made everyone smile.

See these flowers gone to seed?

As I walked past there were 2, no 5, no perhaps 10 goldfinch eating the seeds. They seem to take flight in squadrons as they sensed my presence. I have been seeing fluff drift past the windows occasionally. I figured it was from a tree. I now think it is more likely from these flowers growing near the pond. I was not fast enough with my camera to catch the birds on the plants. Here is an online photo.

Unfortunately, I did see there are still muskrats living in the retention pond. Someone is supposed to be trapping them, but I have never seen that activity.

Lucky continues to improve. I realize we will not have her with us forever, but this is certainly a far cry from thinking we would need to put her down due to her failing ability to walk. She seems to be thriving. She gets about 1/3 can of green beans with each meal and only a little bit of kibble. It is hard to get her weight down. She really likes the canned green beans and it helps her not feel quite so hungry. Maybe since she can walk further now we can get some more pounds off?

During my recent retreat one leader prayed over us saying, “I bless you in all the many names of God. Amen.” Isaiah has perhaps the most familiar list of those names?

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NIV

While on the retreat I had difficulty one night falling asleep. I decided I would try to praise God by reciting as many names as I could think of.

Holy One 
Savior 
Shepherd 
Alpha and Omega 
I think I got to 14 before I fell asleep 
Almighty God 
King of kings 
Lord of lords 
Holder of the keys 
Resurrected King 
Friend 
Brother 
Comforter 
Light of the world 
Bread of Life 
Living Water

You might want to try this as a form of prayer for yourself. As we remind ourselves of Who we love and serve we are also reminded of the mighty power that is held there and used on our behalf.

Posted on in Aging, Amazing Creations, Faith, Memories, Nature, Praise, Prayer

What to Write?

How about my day so far? Uncertain if I like the continuous glucose monitor. Sometimes it is so confusing. Guess I will know more once I meet with the doctor. Morning measurement seems to jump over 2 gingersnaps. Add a bowl of no sugar cereal with milk and the number went through the roof. Took a walk at the nature center and it still did not come down. Grr.

About that walk. It is good for me to go on the trail. See the turtles sunbathing. See the snapping turtle swim and then dive as if it saw a net or some other threat? None of them are concerned about my glucose reading. People feeding the turtles draw fish to the water, also. Always fun to watch.

There used to be an area where I could smell the pine trees, but so many of those trees have died that the fragrance is gone. The children on the trails always amuse me and some of the dogs are cute. I recognize most of the bird songs. The water striders still do not make sense to me, but they are fascinating. Perhaps you are not familiar with the water strider? Explanation follows.0000000

How do they do that?

National Wildlife Federation explains: Water striders are small insects that are adapted for life on top of still water, using surface tension to their advantage so they can “walk on water.”

Water acts different at the surface. Water molecules are attracted to each other and like to stay together, especially on the surface where there is only air above. The attraction between water molecules creates tension and a very delicate membrane. Water striders walk on this membrane.

Water striders are about a half-inch long with a thin body and three sets of legs. The water strider’s secret is its legs. The legs have tiny hairs that repel water and capture air. By repelling water, the tiny water striders stand on the water’s surface and the captured airs allows them to float and move easily.

There is a place near a nature center pool where I remember our son at about age 5 throwing little things into the water to try to fool the frogs.

Did I mention there are eyelashes on our deck? With all the younger women wearing false eyelashes these items make me think of them. Do you know what this is actually is?

Remember the blizzard of maple seeds? These are the stems those seeds were affixed to!

We are still pulling maple seedlings out of every flower bed. tough on the back! Wish I could hire a kid to do it. But there are also sweet alyssum seedlings and columbine and pansy/viola seedlings, so maybe not a good idea.

Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord. Psalm 150:1-6 NIV

Posted on in Aging, Amazing Creations, Faith, Just do it, Listen, Nature, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks, Writing Life

What Fear Can Do

Took me years to attend the group called Women Writing for a Change. I was raised in an alcoholic home. The number one form of child discipline was criticism and shame. The idea of sharing my writing with a group of women for critique was beyond intimidating to me.

This is part of my speed writing exercise from that meeting. “She walked into the meeting space blinded at first by the brilliant morning sun. As her eyes settled in, the sudden realization broke over her that this is not much different than crochet group. A bunch of women with a common interest. Huh. Wonder why she never considered that before?  Fear can do nasty things to women of sound mind.  So here she is today, willing to expose herself to this practice of sharing her writing and  “listening to others’ writing with attention and deep listening.” God, help me give them the same consideration I desire.

When it was my turn to share, I felt like a child as I gulped and read my poem aloud. Did not tell them I wrote this after our daughter’s wedding as we sat at the beach. At the time, I was absolutely exhausted and glad for a time to be refreshed.

At the Sea ©1997 Molly Lin Dutina
Distant silver horizon
Birthed by Your Light
Breaks through leaden skies
Enlightens slate-colored seas
Calls me to You
Closer to You
Given over to You
Nothing withheld.

And I yield to You
To lie in Your arms
Imbibing Holy Breath
Entire being – renewed.

Your sparkling glow
Moves rapidly across the expanse of water
To here and now
You surround me
Uphold me
Indwell me
Live through me.

How could I ever hesitate
Preferring dim to illumined?
You enlighten me
Flaws, shortcomings,
Weaknesses, strengths and all.
Fact: You love me.
Fact: You desire me
You declare I am Yours.

Like sudden deep piles of shells
Buried, unseen yesterday
Revealed today by the powerful tide
Your Kingdom unfolds before me and
Yes, Lord, I yield
Knowing You go with me
And will arrive ahead of me
You have my life in Your scarred hands.

Abiding under Your wing
Your Light fills the throne room
And I must close my eyes
To bear Your brightness
O, All-Powerful Lord,
I refuse to doubt Your methods
Your holy mercy endures
As You bathe me
In Your everlasting Love.

Come my King
O Light Eternal
Bring forth the treasure
You have hidden within me
As I embrace Your will
Illumine me.

The practice was for those of us who were listening to write down phrases that struck us as the others read. When all the readings were finished, we participated in ‘popcorn’ response, each of us just saying out loud what hit us. I was touched by the words that came from what I had written. I shared lines from others, too.

I am not certain this practice group is what I need. I am not going to sign up for the 10 week group that begins in a day or two. I believe God will show me where to share my writing and what the plan is for the future. If that plan becomes Women Writing for a Change I will post it here.

Yesterday I went to the garage to put used sharps in the red container. As I stepped close to the container on top of the freezer I saw a snake. A very large snake (maybe 4-5 feet long) draped along the base of Bob’s antique lab chair on wheels. Fear can do nasty things to women of sound mind. I made it into the house to call Bob. He came running and grabbed the old wooden cane from Scotland. He too was surprised at the size. Told me to move the car. While I went to get the keys he decided to roll the lab chair, complete with snake, out of the garage and into the grass. He clubbed it on the ground with the cane. Asked me to get a five gallon bucket because it was still alive… Using the cane he put it in the bucket and continued to club it. That racket of cane clubbing within plastic bucket brought out the neighbor. He too recently had a snake in his garage, though not this large. We told him his snake has been feeding and growing! He teased us that it looked meaty. We could have it for supper. I told him naw, he could have it all.

Bob took a photo. Yuck.

Finally determined this was a gray rat snake. Oh gross. I do not want to post a photo of what the snake looked like. Feel free to look it up yourself! It is dead. I amazingly did not have nightmares about it. What is it about snakes? I have this primeval fear that makes me freeze when I see a snake. I become almost incoherent. Is it linked to Scripture when Eve was deceived by the serpent?

So the Lord God said to the serpent:

“Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life. Genesis 3:14 NIV

I often wonder what I will do in these situations if Bob should die before I do. Dealing with snakes might be the worst one I can imagine. If – the snake had gone behind the freezer (which is where it was headed). If – I had not seen it when I did. Oh I could go on and on with scary scenarios of IF. Bob’s favorite: IF we had opened the door to the garage and it had entered the house. EWW!

For today, I am glad the snake is gone and my husband of 53+ years is still with me. Forgive me, Father, for my inordinate fear. Lead and guide me in how You wish to use the writing and I pray it is all to Your glory.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

Posted on in Aging, Amazing Creations, Faith, Just do it, Listen, Memories, Nature, Poetry, Praise

Never Crossed My Mind


Never Crossed My Mind ©Molly Lin Dutina  2024

Never crossed my mind
As a younger woman
Hiking the trail, searching for flowers
Savoring the sound of Living waters
That a time would come

When the trails would offer  a daunting challenge
Sitting on a low bench
Taking an inexpert selfie
Would create clenching back pain
Upon arising

The Living Water refreshes my soul
Grand vistas renew my high opinion
Of Your glorious creation
Most High and Holy God
You bless me.

Black bear lumbers through the woods
Even haphazard parking by tourists
Cannot disturb this peace

Trickle of the brook calls me to quiet
Splendor of mighty clouds
Marching across Your endless sky
Summon me to Your heart.

The woodland has changed 
Mighty windstorms have reshaped
Trails and brooks
Grateful the young rangers 
Care for these trails and not me

Posted on in Aging, Amazing Creations, Humor, medical treatment, Nature

One Thing I Learned at Physical Therapy

When they give you ice therapy at the end this channel is on their television monitor. This channel is hilarious! Obviously you do not have ot watch the full hour, but it made me chuckle out loud and forget the pain of stretching!

If you are feeling poorly, this is bound to cheer you at least a bit!! Wish our cable company carried it! Maybe I can find it on YouTube app?

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Memories, Nature, Special Event, Traveling

Vacation List of Beauties

When our son was very young he coined a statement, “Beauty! It’s a beauty!” I decided it was too difficult to take photos of every lovely spring wildflower we saw. In case you have not taken a walk recently perhaps this might bring you cheer! You can put the name of the flower in your browser if you want to see a photo click on images there. What follows is my partial list from the Smoky Mountain Flower Hunt 2024.

Day 1

Fairy wand

Wild ginger

Showy orchis

Canada violet

Jack and the pulpit wilted

Solomon seal

False Solomon seal

Wild strawberry

Common blue violet

Crested dwarf iris

Foam flower

Flowering dogwood

Trout Lily

Yellow Violet

Blood root, no flower

Bluettes!! These might be my favorite. 1/3 inch each flower. Tiny, tiny.

Dog hobble

Day 2

Yellow Trillium

Purple phlox

Jack in the Pulpit, finally!!

Thanks to Merlin which identified the songs of:

Swanson’s warbler

Hooded warbler

Worm eating warbler

Day 3

Pink Lady’s Slipper

Didn’t need Merlin to hear the wood thrush and pileated at once!

Doesn’t get much sweeter than that.

Thank you Father for allowing us to travel to the spring flowers one more year! All praise to You for Your glorious creation. You do not have to share it with us, yet You do! All praise and glory to the Most High God. Amen.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Nature, Praise, Thanks, Worship

Just a Sampling of Both Iris

Here is the cultivated iris that grows in our yard.

Bought the root years ago at a commercial Iris Farm

In the Smokies we found the Crested Dwarf Iris. We have seen this flower before. This year I seemed to see more of it than usual. Perhaps it had to do with the weather or time of year we visited?

Our wildflower book describes it as:

Plant 4-9″ tall and 2-1/2″ flower. This complex flower has three blue-purple (rarely albino) petals as a standard above three unique petal-like sepals. On each sepal is a yellow crest which leads pollinating insects toward the nectar hidden deep in the flower. The insect pollinators first pass beneath the stigmas (depositing pollen) then the anthers (receiving new pollen) before exiting this one-way flower near the stem. This elaborate system assures cross-pollination. Wildflowers of the Smokies by Peter White and 5 contributing co-authors

So I saw some crested dwarf iris and thought there a lot of those.

Then later I saw hundreds and a day after that I figured thousands and then it hit me.

How many millions of these bloom in these mountains that mankind has never seen?

The God of heaven and earth delights me with endless miracles of creation! A walk in the springtime yields blessing upon blessing. I am grateful, thankful and give praise and worship to the Most High God. Every flower is His.

The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,
    God shines forth.

for every animal of the forest is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields are mine.

“Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
    fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

Psalm 50:1-2,10-11,14-15 NIV

Posted on in Aging, Amazing Creations, Challenge, Faith, Listen, Music, Nature, Poetry, Thanks

Song Bird I Delight In The Most

Have your heard a Thrush? Wood or Hermit I am never quite certain, but always enchanted!

We heard it as we entered the the Porters Creek Trailhead in Greenbrier.

This bird always gives me cause to stop and praise the Lord. He did not have to create birds with such majestic songs, yet He lets us hear them and enjoy His handiwork. When we lived on Siesta Drive I would hear one each summer. I even saw it in our front yard once. Since we moved to Platform Street I have not heard one, until the other morning!

Thrush 24-5-5©Molly Lin Dutina
This early morn
I hear the Wood Thrush 
calliope in the trees
Wood thrush or Hermit Thrush?
She sings praises
of the Most High

I am blessed to listen
To her anthem of worship
Not often do I hear her
A special treat indeed

Perhaps she will find
A place nearby to nest
Regardless, she blesses me here now

Straining later to hear her song
Was that the now rare Bob White quail?
As a child I would hear it on summer mornings
Having lost its habitat 
it is now most rare here

I strain for Your voice Lord
Above all the other songs
Yours is the one I want to hear over me.

The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Treasures in plain sight, and if you cannot spot them, they might be treasures within your hearing!

 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26 NRSVA