One afternoon, we hiked through a national forest toward roaring waterfalls. The path was steep, uneven in parts, and loud. The kind of loud where you have to shout just to say, “Watch your step!” But what struck me was how the forest wasn’t resisting the noise. The trees leaned toward the water. The birds moved with it. The whole ecosystem seemed synchronized with the thunderous flow. It reminded me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:24, about the wise builder who stands firm when the storms come. The waterfall didn’t apologize for its power; it stayed the course. And in its own way, it discipled me:

Stay faithful, even when the path is hard, and the noise is overwhelming.

I came home realizing that discipleship isn’t only about human interactions; sometimes it’s about slowing down long enough to listen to creation groan and praise (Romans 8:19–22). My daughter helped me see that. Hiking with her through the rainforest was so special, especially seeing her eyes light up as she drew on her faith and her passion for advocating for vulnerable ecosystems and animals. We practiced Sabbath pacing, and somewhere between the roar of the river and the laughter on the trail, I learned again that following Jesus means paying attention to Scripture, to our children, and even to waterfalls.