INSPIRASUNS

My husband and I have been trying to spend a little more time discovering the scenic spots around us. Yesterday we took a road trip to the Everglades. Just a little over an hour away is a bounty of beauty found in several Florida National Parks. We took the 27-mile ride on Loop Road in the Big Cypress National Preserve.

As we made our way from pavement to gravel road and the scenery changed from manicured landscapes to dense swamplands we started to really focus on what was around us. At first, we drove at a nice pace until we started to notice the water just beneath the foliage. The deeper we got into the preserve the more the trees opened up and you could see the swamp below. I started to see small fish swimming in the water and heard just a few birds in the distance.

I asked my husband to slow down as we drove so we could more easily see any wildlife that might be hanging around. Not long after we saw our first gator sunning himself on a bank. Then there was the large softshell turtle making its way through the water, and yet another on the road seemingly just posing for pictures. Yes, the wildlife was everywhere. In the distance, we could see the miles and miles of swampland and I imagined what else might be wandering out there 🙂 .

As we made our way to the other side of the preserve we came across several gated private properties, with signs posted as such. It was like going back in time to the 50s with old cars and tiki huts visible. I have to admit I could not imagine living that close to the Everglades, especially given the variety of pictures I had just taken. It’s a different lifestyle, but as I thought about the peacefulness of it, no traffic, no interstate making noise, no city lights to skew the view of the stars, ya I could see why some might choose to live there.

Yesterday we saw the beauty of Father’s creation. As I think about yesterday, I realize how blessed we are. Father provides such opportunities to enjoy this world that He created. It was like He said yesterday, “Hey, stop and take a look that this cool stuff over here”. I’m glad we did, and I look forward to doing more of it.

Friends, it’s important to take time to get away from the craziness of the daily “stuff”, and see what God has created. Make some plans as we make our way into summer. Father has given us a pretty amazing gift, let’s take some time to enjoy it and more importantly give thanks for it.

Have a great day friends!

Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.