Catching Leaves

Years ago, I took my niece and nephew for a short hike not far from our home. At their age (they were age about age 7 and 5 respectively) the 1 mile journey through the woods seemed to them like a great adventure. While we were walking along a one section of a stream, hundreds of yellow butterflies were fluttering around the banks.

My niece looked at me and said, “Uncle Rit, it this nature?” “Yes.” I replied. To which she said, “I’ve only seen it on TV.” We have laughed about that many times. I knew she had been out in nature before, but I also knew what she meant. That was the first time, she felt a deep sense of joy and connection to all the natural things that were around her.