Living on a farm for many years now I have learned to really appreciate nature. Life and death happen almost daily. Living a pastoral life makes the bible come alive. When I have a calf that has wandered into the woods it becomes so easy to see leaving the 99 and going to find that which is lost (or in my case leaving the dozen or so

). The wheat and tares growing together, seed planted in good ground. I agree that there are so many connections to God in nature it is something that I hope each person gets to experience, even if it is just a visit to the state park for a weekend.