Connect3ways

“…how to hear God through nature; that is the second book of God…”

Welcome

I would like to share with you something about my history, what I have been involved with and what I’m doing now.

One of my main passions is exploring how to relate to God through being outdoors in nature. I also enjoy writing about it and experiencing the wonder of it.

My Story (Extended story from a different perspective)

I’ll start with a little history and you’ll learn more about my thoughts by revisiting previous posts.

At an early age I was intrigued by the world around me and wanted to find out more about it. I started by watching birds.

I distinctly remember a bird that took my interest from the age of 8. In those days it was okay to go off on your own into the woods and my patch was Beverley Westwood which is on the western edge of Beverley in East Yorkshire. It has areas of coppiced woodland but also open pasture for grazing animals.

My friend and I were in Year 4 of Primary school education and so it was an adventure to scramble through the bushes and explore the thickets and coppices that abound and still do, on Beverley Westwood.

One day both of us were very puzzled by a very small mottled brown bird which flew up in front of us on to a tree and acted in a very distinct manner. It was shuffling up a tree, moving sideways as it climbed. I remembered the detail of the bird’s feathers and size and at home scoured the Hamlyn Guide to the birds of Britain and Europe. I was delighted to discover that it was a treecreeper (Certhia familiaris). The bird fitted the description perfectly. It was one of those moments when I realised that there’s a whole world out there to be explored, and I could start right on my doorstep.

The discovery of the treecreeper began a lifelong quest of exploring the natural world and it has led me down many avenues. My studies have not only led me to the great outdoors but also into the world of books, both fiction and non-fiction. Some examples are:

My favourite author as a teenager was D J Watkins Pytchford who went under the pen-name of BB.

More recently I have enjoyed ‘Under the Bright Wings’ by Peter Harris and ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’ by Peter Wohlleben

At the same time my world was being influenced by Christian thought and faith which has proved to be another lifelong adventure and passion.

Like all adventures, it is not always straightforward. Marrying up my life and the teachings in the Bible is not necessarily easy especially how to relate the Bible to what I am discovering, but it is rich and rewarding. I feel I know much more about God through his creation, and I am filled with awe and love for this planet.

I have endeavoured to be part of Gods mission which includes caring for creation through gardening, leading a hearing from God group and leading a local Forest Church.

“…blog Connect3Ways is so called because it shares a way to connect with God through creation…”

What this blog hopes to achieve

I would like to be able to share how I relate to this world around me and my inner world, of which God is very much part.

I would like to be able to share how to hear God through nature; what I call God’s second book, and relate it to the first book of God – the Bible. Both are very meaningful.

I also want to share through this blog how God speaks to me through the Bible, through people and through the other ways he communicates.

This blog endeavours to draw on what I am learning through the wonder and beauty of creation, which helps us to appreciate the nature of God the Creator.

The blog Connect3Ways is so called because it is about the three main ways that we connect. Quite simply these are connecting with God, connecting with people and connecting with nature.

The form that this blog takes is:

• Short mini blogs
• sharing pictures
• longer articles
• And sharing what other people are doing in a similar way
• Sharing local and not so local place distinctiveness