Nature whispers the words of God

The Spirit of God speaks to us in many ways.

It is in the forest that I see god most clearly. There I find a cathedral made not with human hands, but by the word of God.

Twigs crumble beneath my feet. Leaves scatter as I walk. A squirrel shaking a limb, looking for acorns, or a rodent under the leaves scrounging for what others have left. Birds sound the alarm of an intruder in their midst.

Hearing my own breathing. My heart pounds with excitement of being with the earth again.

Looking in silent desperation for that secret spot. The clearing. A small space in the woods where I can be one with the earth. Away from the trappings of modern times. It is here my soul can find peace. The most glorious cathedral. It is not made my human hands, but by the word of God.

The clearing has been the same for 50 years. The location has changed many times. The song is the same, its just a different verse.

The small animals look for bits of food to survive. They dont know, or care, that I am equally as dependent on the woods for survival. If I am quiet enough, their fears will calm, and they will carry on with their struggle for survival.

I try to be quiet, not disrupting the holiness of the moment. The air is still. Wind is blocked by the ancient trees who stand guard over the holy ground. The wind whispers mysteries. I strain to make out what it says.

My spirit does understand the words even if my mind does not. There is a peace beyond understanding among the ancient trees. A heavy sigh and the cares of the world disappear.

Yet the dissonance remains. A low level nervousness looks for distractions. Like Adam and Eve with their fig leaves, I fear the nakedness of being with the earth.

Tempted to run and hide as they did.

I envy the animals. They have an advantage. They are closer to mother earth, to our heavenly mother who loves us more than we can know. They accept the love as easily as they breathe. They are not burdened by the chains of memory, emotion and even guilt.

Pine needles, leaves, and maybe some moss, provide a comfortable place. God provides for her creatures, whether its an acorn for the squirrel or a place for me to meet with her.

It is here I see the holiest of scriptures written on the breezes that manage to get past the ancient trees.

The Word of God is sharper than a two edges sword, dividing light and dark, flesh and bone. The holy writ I see here is the same even if they are messages that cannot be made into words.

Still a fear makes me tremble, I want to run and hide as the animals do. I am but flesh.

I am of earth and speak of earthly things. There is nothing good in me. I am guilty of eating Eve's apple pie.

Yet mother earth bids me come.

She accepts even me, along with the residents of the forest. Squirrels and small animals know this. Why is it so hard for me to know?

NIV vs. NASB: Understanding theory of translation

The NIV vs the NASB.
It is important to understand the different types of translations, and that defines what “accurate” means. Which is more accurate - word for word perfect, or something that better communicates the meaning?
There are two ways to translate. one is word for word. This is very “accurate” but it is often hard to read. There are differences in language that make translation difficult. Word for word can actually obscure the intended meaning as seen in the context.
The second option is Dynamic equivalence, which seeks to translate thought for thought, instead of word for word. This is easier to read and conveys the meaning more clearly in the language it is translated into.
The NIV uses the thought for thought theory, while the NASB is more word for word. Both are about the same as far as my definition of accuracy goes, but the NASB is more technically accurate from a word for word standpoint.
But even when you pick one theory or the other, there is still some overlap.
There are also paraphrases, like the Living Bible or The Message. These are not true translations at all, but just a retelling of it in another language. The
se are good for reading large segments at a time, but there is not as much regard for literal word for word accuracy.