J Collins Kerr

Now you may all think I'm really nuts.

I'm in the woods, walking and talking (to the trees).

This has been going on for years. Sometimes my conversation is directed to God. But many other times it is directed to the trees as I am overcome with their beauty, their majesty, their steadfastness.

But on this particular day, I start to wonder if they are really listening to me. [Why this didn't occur to me before, I don't know.] Finally, I say, "Do you guys really listen to me?"

Then all of a sudden, at that…

"What on Earth am I Here For?"

Pastor Rick Warren asked this question at the beginning of The Purpose Driven Life, and answers with:

A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump;

a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.

- Proverbs 11:28 (Msg)

Often we don't get answers to this question and much of our lives can seem like a disoriented, purposeless path with no real direction. It can be discouraging, fretful, and often what seems like a waste of time and energy.

But I for one want to have a life…

It has occurred to me over the years that nature can be a very good teacher...

This week I have been helping my daughter with college applications. She will go off to a large institution and learn what will be required for her future endeavors. And I did the same. But as we know learning is a daily experience. We never come to the end of learning.

I find that my daily walks in the woods have been very educational. Trees are great teachers! I'm learning a lot and would like to share it all with you. The…