<p>
	<img alt="" src="{filedir_5}IMG_5601.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right; " />A friend from back home (Texas) sent me a text message one morning that really spoke to my spirit. The text read, &ldquo;I saw an image of you, you were with Jesus and you both were by a lake. You were lying near the lake playing with the water with just your hands. Splashing and making ripples and Jesus was just loving your company. He asked, &ldquo;Do you know how to grow?&rdquo; You said, &ldquo;I think so.&rdquo; Jesus smiled and said, &ldquo;Look at the ripples, so small at first, but look how it grows.&rdquo; You looked up and said, &ldquo;Yeah, but someone has to start it.&rdquo; Jesus lifted up your chin and said, &ldquo;Exactly!&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	It was amazing because she had no idea that I had been swimming in Big Twin Lake the day before. It was a great reminder of who God really is because at the beginning of the internship I had been very discouraged of what my future held. I felt afraid of the unknown, and I felt a restlessness that I did not understand. The first few days at Au Sable were also overwhelming as I learned all the responsibilities I would have. I saw the joy the other interns had over the plants and animals we were learning about. I found myself admitting that I did not feel the same way, and I could not comprehend why because I had always had a passion for God&rsquo;s creation. Then one morning it just hit me. I was writing in my journal, and I found myself describing how happy I was here.</p>
<p>
	After I began to feel the joy for nature again, I realized the reason of why I had not initially felt this passion. I had been in the city for many months before coming to Au Sable, and I determined that it had made me numb to the outdoors. My hometown has beautiful mountains, but I had not spent much time outdoors because I was consumed by the city life. This thought led me to my next realization: I now understood how important the Environmental Education program is and the impact it has on the children we teach. Most kids who live in big cities are not surrounded by nature, and they either never experience this joy for nature, or they become numb after years of spending their lives in the city. I believe this can happen to any person who does not take the time to really experience and appreciate the outdoors.&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Then I realized that God is here at Au Sable; he is among the maple and aspen trees that sway in the wind. He is among the Hairy woodpecker searching for insects in the bark of the pine tree or a Black-capped Chickadee that sings a song. He surrounds us with plants and animals like he would embrace us with his arms. At this moment, I was reminded that he reveals himself through his creation. The birds of the air, the animals on this earth, and the growing flowers all make up a wonderfully made tapestry of who God is. Graciously God has placed us in the middle of his art work, but since the beginning, we have unraveled, little by little his creation. I pray we can weave back what has been destroyed. It won&rsquo;t ever be the same or be what was originally made, but I believe he will look down on us with accepting eyes. I believe he is overjoyed when he sees us trying to restore creation, and one way to begin is to share our joy for God&rsquo;s creation with the world. As stewards of this Earth, I strongly believe we have to take the initiative to care and restore God&rsquo;s creation. We, as the children of God are the ones who must start the ripples.&nbsp;</p>
