New Reminders: Nature
by Ardith Hoff
Many people report feeling closest to God when they are enjoying His natural creation. There is something about strolling through a majestic forest or watching a particularly colorful sunrise or sunset that brings out our feelings of awe, appreciation and gratitude for God’s beautiful handiwork. Those who experience nature as an inspiring experience, might tell you that they see the interconnectedness of everything more clearly in the intricate variables involved in every part of nature and marvel at the complexities that all work together to sustain life itself. Some researchers who have studied the effects of communing with nature have identified several aspects of spiritual wellbeing that can result.
Human connection with God, human connection with one’s self, human connection with others and human connection with nature can work together to support, a balanced value structure and add to our feelings of belonging and love. When we feel like we fit into our surroundings and feel like we can navigate well within it, it generates feelings of love, wellbeing, comfort and security. The importance of immersing one’s self periodically in pleasurable experiences in nature are demonstrably important to our physical, mental and spiritual health.
Of course, once we are aware of the effects of climate change and the human connection to the detrimental effects of some of our activities on the deterioration of certain natural phenomena, it is more difficult to maintain a positive outlook. The official stance of the United Methodist denomination is: “The United Methodist Church believes in the need for environmental stewardship. For Christians, the idea of sustainability flows directly from the biblical call to human beings to be stewards of God's creation. Through various initiatives and programs, the United Methodist Church encourages its members to engage in environmental stewardship practices. This includes supporting sustainable agriculture, advocating for environmental policies, and promoting energy conservation within church facilities.”
Most Christians acknowledge that care of creation is an act of discipleship, we are stewards of the earth, summoned by God to “work it and take care of it” Genesis 2:15. Our uses of the earth must be designed to conserve and renew it rather than to deplete or destroy it. We trust that God can handle the long term and rejoice in the fact that one day there will be a new earth. But we have a responsibility to the earth now. Our dominion over the earth should never be confused as permission to abuse or abandon it.
“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.” Psalm 96:11-12