Pat Mingarelli
[Originally published as Romanced by Nature and a Bull Moose]
One evening, on a photography adventure in Glacier National Park, I was romanced by a bull moose.
What? You don’t believe me? It really happened. Well, to put it in a better way, I was romanced by nature through a bull moose, and ultimately, God orchestrated it all.
Years ago, I worked for Campus Crusade for Christ (a global Christian ministry now known as Cru). After seven years, CCC would give their staff an opportunity to take a sabbatical. A friend and I decided to use our sabbatical to tour nine western national parks. We made Glacier National Park our northernmost stop. We took several hikes in the park. One evening, my friend felt a little tired and wanted to take a break. As a result, I headed down a trail alone.
Off to See a Moose
Shortly after hitting the trail, other hikers told me about a bull moose they saw feeding in a lake three miles away. Wow! With excitement, I continued hiking, hoping to see the creature.
When I arrived at the lake, my eyes were caught by the sight of the massive moose. He stood shoulder deep in the lake about 20 yards from shore. Two fishermen sat on the rocky shore near me with their lines in the water. They soon left, leaving me alone with the moose.
I sat down on the shore and began to photograph the great beast feeding in the lake. He would stick his head under the water, then come up with a mouthful of vegetation. Occasionally, he looked at me in between his chomping, but for the most part, this massive animal appeared not to care that I sat there. He simply kept on eating. It was just me, my camera, the moose, and God.
Romanced by Nature and Called to Eden
I continued to photograph him as the evening sun drifted over the mountains, creating a warm, beautiful light. A gentle breeze brushed over my skin, bringing the fresh scent of nature that added to the magic of the moment.
I was being romanced by nature and a bull moose. Ultimately, God orchestrated the whole event to tug on my heart. On that rock in the presence of the bull moose, God reminded my soul of Eden and the greater paradise of Heaven.
With or without our cameras, we all can be romanced by nature.
God calls us to Himself through nature. A lonely mountain lake and a bull moose make for the perfect setting, but God doesn’t need such a place to romance us. He uses the quiet of nature anywhere to do the same. Whether with sunsets, the hum of cicadas, chirping crickets, dancing wildflowers, a gentle snowfall, or on a walk photographing fall colors, God uses such moments to tell us His greater beauty and of the life to come.
When we take our cameras into the outdoors, God romances us through the wonders that He created and through quiet moments spent with Him.
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