“Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” – Henry David Thoreau.

This weekend, I spent over three hours walking and looking for the antlers that deer shed in the spring. I didn’t find any, but I am okay with that. I really don’t need any more antlers at the moment, even though I still get a thrill every time I find one.

No, the reason I go walking is because I am an introvert. For me, that means that people exhaust me. I am not energized by spending time with others; instead, I feel empty and tired. One of the best ways for me to enliven my soul is to spend time alone outside.

My time outside was spent looking at nature, listening to the birds, catching a sermon online from one of my favorite preachers, and enjoying some soothing music. The time alone filled up my spirit, allowed me to think, and connected me with God through quiet prayers.

I spend a great deal of time walking and looking for antlers this time of year. People always ask me how many I find, and I smile and tell them the numbers. The truth is, I am not really after antlers.