One of the most beloved Christian hymns is John Rutter’s, “For the Beauty of the Earth”. It is a lovely reminder of the divine magnificence available to us at all times if we are willing to step outside and lift our gaze beyond our mundane tasks. People of all faiths can appreciate the simple lyrics which give pause to the exquisite beauty found everywhere in nature:
For the beauty of the earth
For the beauty of the skies
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies
Over and around us lies
For the beauty of the hour
Of the day and of the night
Hill and vale and tree and flower
Sun and moon and stars of light
Sun and moon and stars of light
(To listen to the full song with lyrics performed by Kings College Choir - Cambridge, click here)
Imagine how drab and dreary our world would be without the sound of wind rustling the leaves in mighty trees, the palette of colors displayed across fields of wildflowers, the juicy sweetness of a ripened peach, the gentle coolness of a soft summer breeze, or the smell of fresh cut grass and lilacs in bloom. All of our senses come alive when we engage with nature because nature is the pure, direct manifestation of Infinite Love. When we see a bright yellow sunflower, we see the light of God. Taking a walk, planting a box garden, or volunteering to clean the beach are powerful ways we can connect with the Creator and generate greater good for ourselves, our communities, and all of the Earth at the same time. And the diverse geographies with changing seasons offer us different landscapes to captivate our attention and mark the seasons of our own lives organically.
But nature is more than a backdrop to humanity; we could not survive without its complex ecosystems that provide life-sustaining essentials. Science has provided extensive evidence of our intricate interdependence with the various elements – water, air, soil, plants, and animals, including humankind. From a spiritual perspective, nature in its entirety is Oneness revealed in harmony and perfect balance. Yet too often, the vast miracle of natural life is taken for granted, polluted, and destroyed. We fail to take care of the Mother who cares and provides for us regardless of how poorly we treat her. Globally, it is easy for us to distance ourselves from the reality of our damaging behavior. Our refuse is carted away for us - out of sight, out of mind. We buy food already cut, cleaned, and packaged for us without a trace of the extensive and brutal hardship involved to get it from farm to table. Developed countries enjoy water delivered into homes filtered and safe for consumption, never having to witness the toxic devastation or droughts suffered by too much of the world’s supply.
As we grow spiritually, we often find we can no longer walk the earth in such a disconnected and disingenuous way. Whether we follow the Golden Rule, the laws of cause and effect, or karma, we know that what we reap, we sow. And that includes our treatment towards all of God’s creations, not just people. We also learn that when we champion the well-being of another life, we symbiotically thrive. Thus, by planting, watering, and pruning a tree, we receive cleaner air, varied provision, and protection, as well as aesthetic pleasure.
Now imagine a world in which every one of us strives to nurture and protect our planet with the same loving intention we wish to experience in our own bodies, our own lives. As Sam Cook might sing, “What a wonderful world that would be!”
© Nancy Noack and Mighty Oak Ministries International, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author and/or this site's owner is strictly prohibited.