Genesis 1:29-31, The Message

^29-30 Then God said, “I’ve given you
    every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth
And every kind of fruit-bearing tree,
    given them to you for food.
To all animals and all birds,
    everything that moves and breathes,
I give whatever grows out of the ground for food.”
    And there it was.³¹ God looked over everything he had made;
    it was so good, so very good!
It was evening, it was morning—
Day Six.

Ever been wound up so tight you thought you would explode? Or felt so down that lifting our eyes or thoughts upward was an impossible task?

Life at times can become so complicated and take on such a heaviness that there seems no solution within our realm of existence.  Ever noticed that on such occasions, something deep within us begins to stir a longing for the pureness of the simple and quiet. And without realizing it a silent yearning draws us to remove ourselves from within the closure of a building and escape to the out of doors.

Then as we walk, taking slow deep breaths, focusing on the surrounding scenery, keeping a steady calm pace, something almost magical begins to happen. Nature’s simple remedy of the quietness of a velvety breeze, the uplifting music of the birds, invisibly begins to ministers to our spirits and physical wellbeing. The anger, fear, and/or stress we might have been wrestling with slowly subsides. Our heart rate slows down, our blood pressure returns to normal, the tension in our muscles relaxes. 

Intrusive thoughts no longer find a welcoming place to land. Instead, they are replaced with thoughts of peace and calmness. Our minds begin to think with more clarity. The sky, the trees, the birds, the landscape acts like a filter, allowing only positive, productive thinking to occur. 

No matter where we find our solace, in the mountains or at the beach, our thoughts are drawn to the Creator of such exquisite beauty and indescribable power. Even when a storm arises, we rest secure in the power of God. It’s this balance of peace and power within nature that inspires us to seek such balance in our own lives. 

The massiveness of the mountains finds us unable to find words to describe them. The soft and varied colors of a rainbow remind us of God’s promises. The blended shades of sunset calms us and the glory of a sunrise energizes us. The constant pulse of the ocean washing in upon the beach resets our inner pace realigning it as God intended.

I wonder if this mystical effect nature has on humankind is not but the leftovers of Eden’s magic lingering still within our minds.