Skaneateles Lake in New York State was the place for our final scuba diving test. Jack and I had finished the test and were sitting on the deck of a friend of our instructor. He told us about the lake in all seasons and then said, “One spring morning I was sitting out here having coffee. There was still some ice along the shore of the lake. I saw a buck and a doe walk up to the water, not far from where we’re sinning now. They didn’t even hesitate to step into the cold water, and just kept walking until it got deep enough to swim.

They both swam steadily until I saw the doe struggling to keep her head above water. It lasted several minutes until the doe disappeared beneath the surface. The buck kept swimming for a short while, then went under. He came back, then went down again. After what I thought was a long time, he rose up again and the doe was on his his back! I could hardly believe it, but I had my binoculars on by then and I saw it. He carried her almost half way across this lake in water that must have been in the 40’s. On the other side she slipped off his back and they both walked into the woods.”

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

Nature is a wonderful resource for people. We cam all appreciate a breath-taking sunset or a walk in a quiet woods, and sometimes God gives us an even closer glimpse of His Spirit through the lives of animals and even plants. God taught Jonah a lesson in humility by raising up a plant and then allowing it to wither. (Jonah 4:6-11)

Our love of nature we share with nature’s Creator. It is a window into the creative and sustaining nature of God Himself, and an important bond with our God.

When our host witnessed the deer swimming across the lake he saw a bond that reflected God’s bond with us. There are countless examples of such bonding in the world, and if we allow ourselves to see our God as creator and sustainer, nature displays many manifestations of Him. St. Paul goes so far as to say that people have no excuse for rejecting the reality of a living God in the midst of all of life on planet Earth. Nature is a reminder in beauty and poignancy, power and strength of our God. Perceiving this is another path to His life.

Love in Him,

Prue