When I was a child, my parents used to take my siblings and me on hikes through the cow field behind our house. We’d then explore the woods that connected to it and walk around for a bit before heading back inside. It was a great chance to see some of God’s creation, and it filled us children with a healthy curiosity about nature.
“What’s this plant?” “Did you see that deer? How fast do deer run? How did it hear us?” “Why do hummingbirds move so fast?” We loved nature, and even if I’ve always been scared when a bird would fly too close to me and I don’t particularly like mosquito bites, I still appreciate being outdoors and seeing these wonderful and fascinating creatures. Even people who don’t like going outdoors because of the bugs and the heat can’t help but love a beautiful sunset or a nice landscape scene!
There are a few reasons why we’re attracted to nature. Not only did humans as a species evolve and spend most of our historical existence in nature, but God speaks to us through nature. We see in the Book of Genesis and profess in the Creed that all creation comes from God. That means all creation is good, because God is good. And all creation is beautiful, as God is beautiful. Granted, we see this better in some creatures than in others—for example, it is easier to see God’s beauty in a sunset or a sunrise than in a mosquito—but all creation shows God’s goodness and beauty. The Bible abounds with verses about how the earth shows God’s glory and his beauty!
When Jesus preached, he often used examples from nature—the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that, although the smallest seed, becomes the largest of bushes. The members of the Church are like weeds and wheat growing together (See Matthew 13). Even now, nature can speak to us in analogies. Like an oak tree grows big and strong but gets its nourishment and stability from its roots, so too do we need to be rooted in prayer
in order to be nourished spiritually and to weather the storms of life. When we look at the ocean, it seems to go on forever. This can speak to us of God’s mercy, which is endless—deeper and wider than the ocean!
Water cleanses us, like how in Baptism we are cleansed of our sins. The abundance of grains of sand on the beach can be a reminder of how many graces God tries to give us—more than we can count! Just like ants are small and can carry items many times the size of their bodies, so too can we easily carry even the heaviest of crosses, with the help of God. Certainly you can think of a couple other examples of how God speaks to us through the outdoors!
During the summer, if it’s not too hot outside, we often go outside with our family. Even if you don’t have a cow field right behind your backyard like I did, you may have a chance to go for a walk in the city park; hike and camp in the state park, national park, or
nature preserve; or even go to the beach for a vacation. Talk with your family about what you see, and about the Lord, who made it all. You don’t have to spend the whole time you’re outside analyzing every plant and animal, but make sure to spend some time in reflection while you’re hiking, biking, swimming, or playing outside.
What does the nature you see tell you about who God is?