Building on a solid foundation is wise! Whether your building a house or finding a spot for your tent, a good foundation is required. I took a group to Colorado backpacking a few months ago. I started going to the Colorado mountains with my grandparents over forty years ago. Something special happened to me each time I went. I have tried to figure out this phenomenon over the years. Is it just me that gets restored and refreshed out in God’s creation? Is the renewal the unique way God made me to connect with Him? Does the hustle and bustle of normal life really sap my emotions?
I started reading about this topic as a response to these questions. I have read both Christian and secular answers to this phenomenon. I am currently reading The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Feel Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams. Note: This is a secular read. In the book a neuroscientist by the name of Gazzaley went out into nature and experienced Kaplan’s theory about attentional restoration. Gazzaley said, “Nature is restorative because it frees up the top-down part of your brain in a way that allows it to recover.” If you would like to experience restoration camping or backpacking with me in the future click here.
On the backpacking trip I mentioned above we studied, journaled, and discussed the topic building a strong foundation. Our theme verse was 1 Cor. 3:9-11. “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
I gave each group member a Field Notes Journal and pen along with a list of verses on the topic. We were refreshed by Scripture, journaling, and the discussion. The foundational principles we that we focused on included:
The relationship of the Holy Spirit with Jesus as a human
The Prayer life of Jesus
Jesus walking in Obedience
Jesus and Scripture
Worship as a way of life
God honoring Relationships
I assigned the group devotions on these principles, journaling, and discussions. It was good for each one of us to learn more about Jesus and see how he was not just all God but also all man. After seeing Jesus as our role model we evaluated ourselves in these areas and picked one to focus on as we headed back to our different homes. If you, your family, small group, or church would like to go through this material send me an email. The training can be done in a variety of ways that include an overview, a seminar in person, and training from a distance using Zoom.
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