Having lived in a huge city of concrete towers and masses of people, I think I appreciate even more the opportunity to live closer to the natural world. Up here on our windy hilltop with the birds at the feeder and the deer walking through the forest, I am so much more at peace with the world. Feeling the earth as I dig and plant, listening to the rain, even petting the cat connects with some deep place in my spirit that was missing amid the materialism of malls and mass transit systems.
I did not attribute any great spiritual significance to my love of nature, I just thought as a child of the 60’s I was a bit of a hippie at heart. Recently I have discovered that there may be more to this.
Why did God when he responded to the angry questions of Job, point him first to the natural created world? It was almost as if God was saying, “Have you looked around? How can you question a God who is capable of speaking into existence all this magnificent, intricate, overpowering living and life-giving planet?” Go back to nature Man! It’s all there in the rhythm of the seasons, the tides, the creatures and in the very soul and mindfulness of man.
Dallas Willard states, “Paul himself explains that all human beings remain responsible, no matter how far they fall, because of the clear way in which God stands forth in natural reality. ‘Since the creation of the world, God’s invisible nature is clearly presented to their understanding through what has been made.’ Romans 1:19-20.
The question is frequently asked regarding the people who have never heard the gospel of Christ. To which Paul answers in Romans 10: 17-18 from the Amplified Bible
17 So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).
18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; [for the Scripture says] Their voice [that of nature bearing God’s message] has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world.
Psalm 19
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Yes, this world received the curse of the fall; as a result natural disasters are a part of our existence. However, the scripture indicates the burden of this on the earth with almost sentient descriptions.
Romans 8:19-22
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
Jesus Himself pointed people to creation,
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!…27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
The purpose of this blog is not to gloat over those of my friends who still live in the steamy, smoggy overcrowded cities of the world. It is rather to say, take a break! Stop and watch the birds. Smell the flowers. Sit and listen to the waves. There is within the chaos that man creates to drown out the call of his creator, a still small voice and sometimes it is in the fragile face of a flower or the call of a bird.
If the very act of petting a cat has been shown to lower blood pressure, God must be saying something through the natural world. Maybe He is saying there is peace and praise when we pause long enough to appreciate the world He gave us.
Canticle of the creatures by Saint Francis of Assisi
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
all praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through all you have made,
and first my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day;
and through whom you give us light.
How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor;
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
All Praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon
and the stars; in the heavens you have made them,
bright, and precious, and fair.
All praise be yours, my Lord,
through Brothers wind and air, and fair and stormy,
all the weather’s moods,
by which you cherish all that you have made.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water,
so useful, humble, precious and pure.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom you brighten up the night.
How beautiful is he, how cheerful!
Full of power and strength.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through our Sister
Mother Earth, who sustains us and governs us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.