Photo and Commentary (c)2025 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
There’s something deeply calming about lush green grass. Maybe it’s because green symbolizes life and vitality, while dry, brown grass feels like the absence of it. Whatever the reason, I find great joy in the imagery of this beautiful hillside.
This particular hillside lies just off the shore of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. In the first image, you can see a charming village nestled into the slope—several homes, a few barns, and an abundance of trees and grass stretching in every direction. The second image reveals more of the terrain: it’s a fairly steep incline, and the only creatures I can imagine truly benefiting from such a slope are sure-footed cows. I didn’t capture any in the photos, but they were definitely nearby.
When I first saw this scene, my mind immediately jumped to the cost of my summer water bill—since I have to water my lawn two to three times a week just to keep it alive. But here? This lush hillside thrives naturally, nourished by rainfall and mountain snowmelt. No expensive irrigation, no effort—just nature doing its thing.
Whether I’m looking at the wide-angle image filled with homes or the close-up of a solitary barn nestled in nature’s green carpet, one question comes to mind: What surrounds us?
Do we choose to surround ourselves with things that are vibrant, life-giving, and beautiful? Or—often without realizing it—do we allow ourselves to be encircled by what’s dry, fading, or unhealthy? I truly hope it’s the former.
This quarter in our Sabbath School class, we’ve been diving deeper into the life of Moses. Naturally, that means we’re also learning more about the journey of the children of Israel.
In our most recent lesson, we explored the awe-inspiring moment when God descended from Heaven, allowing His people to see and hear His presence. He surrounded them with His glory—an overwhelming display of divine love and majesty. But was that enough for them? Were they content with the lush, living landscape of God’s love that enveloped them at Mount Sinai? Sadly, no. They believed they needed more—something shiny, something tangible. That object, though dazzling to the eye, was lifeless and hollow. It stood in stark contrast to the vibrant, nourishing presence of God right before them.
It’s a powerful reminder — not only does God surround us with exactly what we need, but when we invite Him in through prayer, He also protects that space — keeping it pure, peaceful, and untouched by anything that doesn’t belong. So, all we need to do is ask.
Pray now that God will surround you with His presence and shield your life with His love – creating an oasis of and providing you with the green grass all around.