Reb Dovid z"l appreciated nature. But it was never just nature - it was always "niflaos HaBoray" "the wonders of the Creator, G-d".
Several summer vacations were spent in New Hampshire. Like others on vacation, he appreciated the many opportunities to enjoy "niflaos HaBoray".
During one summer something extraordinary happened. He used to go up the hill to daven (pray) Mincha many times. A group of Satmar students and their teachers had moved their Yeshiva during the summer, away from the stifling city of New York to the fresh mountain air of Bethlehem, NH. This little group was complete with their own daily minyan and full time learning up on this particular hill where my father began frequenting. Noticing that he was a Lubavitcher Chassid, they started asking him questions about the Lubavitcher Rebbe and seeking explanations for other things about Lubavitchers. At first their questions seemed more in the tone of criticism, but as Reb Dovid patiently answered them time after time, there was a new found respect. Every word that would come out of his mouth in explanation to their queries was another beautiful pearl of wisdom. He soon started teaching them Chabad Chassidus, from the deep teachings - called "maimarim". They were greatly inspired and wanted more. After the summer, Reb Dovid, z"l, connected their leader with Reb Yoel Kahn, well known in Lubavitch circles for his brilliance and depth. Thus they continued to learn and grow in Chabad Chassidus.
Many years later my father went to visit Reb Mendel Vechter, the Rosh Yeshiva (head) of this group of students, who was recovering from a severe mishap. Some students who were keeping guard and checking out everyone who was being allowed to visit, heard that it was Reb Dovid Scheiner at the door, and quickly allowed him in with tremendous "kovod" respect.
(Up until here, this story is told from my perspective, that of his daughter as she understood what had transpired. More recently, we had the opportunity to touch base with R' Mendel Vechter, amush, and here is what we heard.)
"First of all - the Hafatzas hamayonos that I do today, is in a very great measure due to the zchus of R' Isser Dovid." Reb Vechter went on to say that R' Dovid was definitely the BRIDGE that brought him into Chabad. "...kain mul nisht geven" meaning it would otherwise never have happened (his connection to Chabad). "He was an aideler (refined) mentch, he had bitul, he had anava - a straight "glateh" (smooth) tmimus (wholesomeness)." R' Dovid originally came because he heard there was a yeshiva there - he came to daven there. And R' Dovid suggested at one point that he would learn with him. R' Mendel was interested in Chassidus in general (but he was wary of Chabad Chassidus). "He learned with me the first time, I believe, was a maamar from the Rebbe about nisyonos (trials and tribulations in life). I think it was a mugedige maamar. It made upon me a very good impression." At some point when R' Vechter was asking questions, R' Dovid answered in his humble manner, "Far de
m darf men a greserer vi mir." ("For this we need someone bigger than me.") R' Mendel added, "He was the one who was meshadach me with R' Yoel." He thinks it was in Taf Shin Lamed Zayin (1977). Then he talked about himself. He had all kinds of questions about the Rebbe and the Shitos (approach) of Lubavitch. But it wasn't shayach to try to answer the questions because they were coming from a whole different perspective. So only by learning Chassidus, that was the only way it could change his original mindset and dissolve the questions.
Years later R' Vechter sent this postcard in honor of the wedding of R' Dovid's daughter.