Recently, I chanced upon this quote. I do not know who wrote it, but it spoke to me and set me to thinking.
When I was growing up, I had the good forture to live next to a forrest - Lee's Woods - and a Daddy and Aunts who were at home in the woods. We thought nothing of tromping through those woods for hours at a time. I never saw them as dark or forbidding or scary, but rather I felt at home among the towering trees, sunlight filtering through the leaves. With my active imagination, I found that place to be magnificent and magical, full of surprises and treasures.
When I was no more than 10 or 11, I discovered the poem, "Thanatopsis" by William Cullen Bryant and, while I did not comprehend the poem was about death, I did understand the opening lines...
"To him, who in the love of Nature holds communion with her visible forms, she speaks a various lauguage." I had heard that voice of gladness and felt the 'smile and eloquence of beauty.' I had experienced the mild and healing sympathy of Nature. I "felt" Nature. I understood her language.
Mu soul - my spirit - needs the quiet, soothing communing with Nature. There have been many times throughout my lifetime that I have felt God's presence in a church. I have never failed to find Him in Nature - especially those 'places where Nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.' I can't help but think how much better this world would be if folks just spent a little more time communing with Nature.
I am reminded of that old Dial soap commercial... it could be .....
"Aren't you glad you love Nature? Don't you wish everybody did?"
