#sequoiaandkingscanyonnationalpark

[lakers16xchamps]

Missing this 💛💜 #sequoiaandkingscanyonnationalpark #love #nature (at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Va_-PgdDi/?igshid=jeb3sawtcb0q

[edreamworld]

#waterfalls at #giantredwoods #sequoia #redwoodforest #kingscanyonnationalpark #nationalparks #california #californiaadventure #advantures #californiaredwoods #sequoianationalpark #sequoiaandkingscanyonnationalpark (at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByAqfjFB47y/?igshid=pl2ouqln72j4

[mcventurer]

Overnighting in the Sequoia National Park where I was up close and personal with these forest giants, the Sequoia trees. I was extremely fortunate to see a large wild black bear pass by me in this adventure too! . . . . . @sequoiakingsnps @nationalparkservice #mcventurer #sequoianationalpark #sequoiaandkingscanyonnationalpark #sequoia #shermantreetrail #tree #trees #biggesttreeintheworld #sierranevada #blackbear #trunk #generalsherman #trekking #hiking #hikingadventures #bushwalking #naturephotography #naturelover #nature #prehistoric #adventuretravel #travel #travelblogger #adventurer #california #instatravel #intothewild #intothewoods #wildlife #wildlifeplanet (at Sequoia National Park, California)

[sandeegutz]

#summervacation2017 #familyfun #famgutz #chillaxin #sequoiaandkingscanyonnationalpark #atwellmill (at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks)

[inlivingwritenow]

Pt. 2 - 

There’s a story in The Bible where Jesus heals a blind man.  After Jesus spits and places his hand over the blind man’s eyes, He asks him “Do you see anything?”  To which the man replies, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

A couple of years ago, I taught a lesson from Jeremiah 17:7-8 that read:

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Which is to say that trees don’t worry about bearing fruit when they are rooted and focused on getting their nourishment.

In this lesson, I asked to write down 5 people you normally surround yourself with. 

And “What are they like?”

Followed by, “Can you recall the biggest tree you’ve seen? What did you remember about its surroundings?

Then, “Did you know you are an average of the 5 people you surround yourself with? And did you know that in order to learn about yourself, you can look at who you are in relation to other people?”

People are like these big trees “with shallow roots that can only stand tall when interlocking with others, holding each other grounded.” Big trees have a collaborative effort below the earth. Their roots, the biggest part of them, are intertwined with its surroundings.

The lesson was inspired by the giants in my life. And in Ephesians, it talks about “being rooted and established in love.”

^ Although many are not pictured, these are definitely some I started 2020 with. Loving ones I literally went through the fire just to be with haha. I can probably count with my hands the number of times my own family has come to visit me in Merced, so I’m really appreciative for their visit soon.

[edreamworld]

#giantredwoods #sequoia #redwoodforest #kingscanyonnationalpark #nationalparks #california #californiaadventure #advantures #californiaredwoods #sequoianationalpark #sequoiaandkingscanyonnationalpark (at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByAqbJghKH4/?igshid=uu2hprhziy3j

[edreamworld]

#giantredwoods #sequoia #redwoodforest #kingscanyonnationalpark #nationalparks #california #californiaadventure #advantures #californiaredwoods #sequoianationalpark #sequoiaandkingscanyonnationalpark (at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByAqYF1B-ux/?igshid=1kryegvrn9z31

[sandeegutz]

#summervacation2017 #familyfun #famgutz #sequoiaandkingscanyonnationalpark (at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks)

[sandeegutz]

#summervacation2017 #familyadventures2017 #famgutz #sequoiaandkingscanyonnationalpark adventures from our day! (at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks)

[inlivingwritenow]

Pt.1 - 

A beautiful piece of advice sparked a good half of my year with multiple reminders to “mirror nature.”

“Oh I know how to do that. I like to spend my time outdoors anyway. Hikes teach me to pace myself and help others along the way. Being beside oceans remind me that horizons are unending. Yosemite Valley hugs me in its granite ranges reminding me of how small I am in this big world,” I said.

But “mirroring nature” looked more like: being and growing purposefully, slowly, and intentionally to weather the storms. (Because what better teacher than those that have been here long before us and will continue to be here when we’re gone.)

In university, I learned the hard way that I learn things very “slowly” (in comparison to our fast-paced society). So forget me trying to pitch myself as being “a fast learner”–I’m not, especially when being tested.

I will study every intricacy from as many perspectives multiple times with constant questions before I can learn it in my sleep. Good enough to answer and debunk any uncertainties or questions, carefully calculated–But with nature, sometimes I feel like I talk too much when “playing tour guide” in Yosemite. 

For the last time I was there, a detour en route to our destination stopped us in awe. We all looked at each other and observed the resounding, deafening..silence. 

I’ll never forget that.

I am now a student of silence. 

My awkward self would normally make sure to fill any silence with sound–whether it be questions, songs, or just quirky noises. But tests are given in silence.

And like I said, I am in no way a fast learner. And this thing called life and nature and adulthood.. I’m in en route and am further along than I have been.