Psalm 104: 10-13 He sends forth springs in the valleys; they flow between the mountains; They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they lift up their voices among the branches. He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of his works. New American Standard (NAS)
Seven Bridges Trail is a favorite of many people in the Colorado Springs area. It starts on a dry thirsty road that used to take miners across the mountains to Cripple Creek. The trail is accessed by crossing the first bridge, which sometimes is shared with a homeless camp on its edges. There are steep climbs, and easy walks, but it is always fun for children to count the bridges. Once you pass the Seventh Bridge, the path takes you across a scree field (small rolling pebbles) that can make the bravest person quietly concentrate on the sheer plunge beside us. If you follow the path up to the old Aspen grove, you will hear the birds chirping and delighting in their sanctuary. The springs feed into the creek and overflow in the early summer. Ice clings to the pathway with no sun to melt it under the trees. It makes our path very slippery. The roar of the creek turns to a soft bubbling in summer when the columbine bloom, and the dogs take their swims along with the humans and wild animals. There is an abundance of red, yellow and blue butterflies feeding on the flowers.
What beautiful fruit of nature did you stop and observe today? What markers do you use to measure your progress in life?