Have you ever found animal tracks in the snow or mud? One of my favorite things to do after fresh snowfall or in a muddy area is to search for signs that animals have passed through. When I find a paw print, I look for claw marks. Wild dogs, like coyotes, cannot retract (draw in) their claws, unlike wild cats, such as bobcats or mountain lions. So if a paw track has no claw marks, it is likely from a wild cat. Recently, my family found large wild cat tracks in the snow. Behind the paw prints was a long track like a line. This hint told us the tracks were made by a mountain lion with its tail dragging in the snow behind it.

 

Tiny mice tracks can show me where a mouse was running through a forest. And when I find hoof tracks, I carefully examine the size to determine whether they are from a deer, a slightly larger elk, or a massive moose.

Identifying and following mammal tracks is like following a trail of clues. If you find tracks, are there nibbled branches nearby? Can you find scat? A story unfolds when we find animal tracks, revealing a bit about the area we’re exploring and which animals call it home.

 

Did you know we can also follow tracks through the Bible? You can get started through a word study. Choose a word or theme in the Bible, such as joy, peace, hope, or salvation. Use tools like Biblegateway.com, Blueletterbible.org, or a Strong’s Concordance to see where you can find your chosen word throughout the Bible. Make a list of the verses or create an art piece with them, such as painting a trail and adding the references for each verse along the way. If you want to take your search even further, use one of the above tools to look up the word in its original Greek or Hebrew language.

 

When we track words and themes in the Bible, we can get a better glimpse of God’s truth and his heart for us, his children, just as finding animal tracks helps us gain a fuller view of a forest.

"Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:4–5 (NIV).

Dear God, thank you for animals leaving us clues to follow in the snow or mud. I’m grateful you give us your instructions, comfort, and promises in the Bible. Help me to become more familiar with your Word each day as I practice following tracks through Scripture. Amen.

Fun Fact:

Rabbit tracks can look backward because their large back feet land ahead of their small front feet when they hop!

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A Wild & Wonderful Summer Adventure

Explore creation right where you live with Bible-based nature study and journaling. Includes 3 live video classes with Eryn!

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