Are you a beach person or a mountain person?
It’s funny how people often prefer one over the other and, as someone who is studying psychology, I wonder what little preferences like this says about a person.
This week my boyfriend and I have been doing a road trip on our way back to Stellies for the start of the university year. Our first stop was in a small fishing town and are now in a peaceful mountain cottage. Him and I have both been blown away by our quaint place nestled away on a beautiful farm and realised that we are definitely some of the people who enjoy the mountain landscape more than the ocean!
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork“
Since arriving here I have been filled with new inspiration and such a deep gratitude for life. This has made me reflect on God’s creation and its ability to fill us with admiration for God. There isn’t a better way to put it than Psalm 19:1.
Throughout 2025 this was also a reflection I kept coming back to. The move from Joburg to the scenic town of Stellenbosch gave me the opportunity to explore and experience God’s creation in a new way. From early morning cycles on my way to campus, to study sessions in the botanical gardens, afternoon breaks in the parks and sunset runs in the Coetzenburg mountains. I can confidently say that these were some of the best moments of my first year of university.
This was also contrasted with a smaller living space than I grew up with and less direct access to the outdoors. Many of the days I spent just in my apartment without getting outside were some of the hardest days of my year. I found myself feeling down without any real reason. Often the only solution to my bad moods was to just spend some time outside.
I don’t think this is coincidental. God created the earth and all that is in it. In the very beginning He created the garden of Eden and created Adam and Eve to take care of it. The garden was their home and their fulfilment came from being present with God and tending to their home. Through scripture and personal experience I have come to understand that we as humans were made to live in God’s creation. Think about the experience of being outdoors in contrast to constantly be surrounded by buildings and spend all our time indoors. It is no wonder we often “feel most alive” when we are in nature.
I also don’t think it is coincidental that God created us all with preferences of which sceneries make us feel most inspired. He has handcrafted each of us so intentionally and uniquely down to the way we most admire His glory in creation. We live in such a beautiful world - and frankly a stunning country. Let us make good use of it in and enjoy the glory of God that overflows from all creation.
One or the changes I thought of bringing to The Growing Seed is to start a new section to the newsletter where I give a couple of journal prompts and practical tips for you to explore based on the topic covered that week. Let me know if this is something helpful for you!
Some questions to reflect on:
Where do you feel “most alive” and aware of God’s glory in nature?
Do you think you spend enough time outside on a daily basis? If not, when can you dedicate some time to be outside?
Some of the things I do to enjoy nature in my daily life:
Whenever possible doing my quiet time outside
Taking note of all the details in my surroundings like birds chirping, bugs flying, flowers and a breeze that passed through
Eating meals outside
Watching sunsets and sunrises
I hope you enjoyed this newsletter and the additions I added. I also want to say thank you to everyone who commented on my last post, it was really nice to engage with you and I’d love to continue chatting about the newsletters with you. If you have a thought to share based on this reflection or would like to share any tips on how you enjoy God’s creation, please feel free to leave a comment!
We’ll chat again soon,
Love Cailyn xx
