Simply Living Sample

One of my favorite moments from last year was waking up in the countryside, having camped with no tent, underneath the stars. In the morning I was greeted with a stunning sight–as the mist rose, I saw rows of hills dotted with steeples of churches. My soul sang with delight. I was left with a sense of awe and gave glory to God.

Scientists say when we’re in nature, our brains respond with what psychologists have called “fascination.” God wired our brains to respond to nature with fascination. Spending time in nature can also have beneficial physical effects; improving our health and affecting our relationships, and making us feel a greater sense of belonging with the place where we live.

Shortly after that camping trip, I was preparing for a talk about environmental stewardship at a Chinese Church. I watched a documentary about air pollution in China which contributed to over 1.2 million deaths in 2010 alone. What struck the deepest nerve was a part of the film about a child who had always lived under the haze of the pollution so that she had never seen a blue sky, let alone a star. The pain of that girl’s experience stood in stark contrast to my own experience: the free abandonment I felt at the beauty of God’s creation on that hillside.

God values nature, it’s a wonderful gift. We need to look after it so that all may enjoy it.

Response: Go outside and give thanks for the nature you see. Ask Him to open your eyes to the beauty in the vast sky, and the smallest leaf. Praise God that recently China has developed more aggressive laws on air pollution. Pray that they are enforced more diligently.