Nature

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.” —John Muir.

sunrise.JPG

A Forward Day by Day writer today reminds us of this quote from John Muir, one of our country’s most famous naturalists and conservationists. Muir was instrumental in forming the National Park Service and the Sierra Club. In spiritual direction, when I ask someone, “Where do you find meaning or feel closest to God?” the most frequent answer is “outdoors in nature.”

In photosynthesis, trees transform light energy into chemical energy. I believe that the trees, the sun, the sky, the ocean, and the mountains also transform some energy inside of us when we are outdoors among them. We see beauty alive and well when before we could see only ugliness. We realize that there is something greater than ourselves, something that transcends our own problems. It is there for us. We do not have to pay for it. It is a gift.

My experience is that when I have difficulty sleeping due to physical, mental, or spiritual pain, it helps to go outside or sit by a window and watch the sunrise in the morning, even on a cloudy day. The sunrise, the world outside, can be a constant reminder of a new opening, a new beginning—the dawning of a fresh way to look at things.

Muir stands out as someone poised to make us aware of the marvel of nature, particularly the wilderness; but he also reminds us of our stewardship of this gift.

Consider the experience of viewing nature, the outdoors, as one of our most important lifesaving, life-renewing spiritual practices and remedies—better than drugs. But nature, like our own soul, also needs care and love.

Joanna joannaseibert.com

adventfront copy.png

Release party!!!!!!!!!!!

Come and get a signed copy of the new book

Just in time for the holidays

A Spiritual Rx for Advent Christmas, and Epiphany

The Sequel to A Spiritual Rx for Lent and Easter

Both are $18

All Money from sale of the books goes either to Camp Mitchel Camp and Conference Center in Arkansas or Hurricane Relief in the Diocese of Central Gulf Coast

Seibert’s, 27 River Ridge Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72227

10 to noon, Saturday September 14, 2019

RSVP joannaseibert@me.com