Kin to Nature

This is a topic for a text book, and I think there are probably many written, so I’ll just give a couple thoughts on the idea. We come from nature - at least, I believe, our bodies and minds do. Our spirits come and inhabit our physical and subtle bodies. (I also believe our spirits are made of the same stuff as nature.) We are kin to nature. When we go amongst it and are present in it, we honor that relationship and this can bring us closer to divinity - the divinity in nature and in ourselves, and the Divinity who created us. If “yoga” really means unifying your body, mind, and spirit, then I submit that spending meditative time in nature is yoga.

A women in my church told a story about how she loves nature and she would go out in it almost daily. She would always bring her phone and text or call people that she wanted to minister to while she was out - double duty, you know. But recently she has started leaving her phone at home and allowing herself to truly enjoy nature. And guess what? This has had a profound effect on her. She enjoys her nature time more and, in general, she is much less stressed.

Try it out for yourself, even if it is just three minutes. Next week, maybe you try five minutes. Maybe in a month you try going on a 30 minute nature walk. Maybe you find out about a nature journaling class and you decide to go take it. Then maybe you fall out of the habit, and you start again with three minutes. Maybe instead of jumping on your phone or computer the next time you feel the impulse to go on social media, you go take a little walk outside. It’s a practice, friends. So be compassionate on yourself and find the nature witnessing practice that is right for you today. ​

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