Something to Consider

"In the midst of the complexities of modern life, with all its pressures, the spirit of man needs to refresh itself by communion with unspoiled nature. In such surroundings-- occasional as our visits may be-- we can achieve that kind of physical and spiritual renewal that comes alone from the wonder of the natural world"
Laurance S. Rockefeller

Mr. Rockefeller couldn't have said it better. Nature is a sort of therapy. It's the passage from the "new and improved" world of the 21st century to the old and better world of my childhood. One of the main parts of my childhood was soaking up the natural world. We explored all the time in the woods behind our house and playing in the mud was one of the highest privileges that my younger self could receive. We loved to get to play outside and it made for a happier and healthier childhood. These days, though, many children lack that joy and health because they are growing up in a "more advanced" society where technology is the center of many people's lives. Parents no longer have to teach their young children colors or the alphabet; they can just sit them down with an iPad that will teach them those things. Don't get me wrong, technology is very useful and I think even a necessary part of life but when enjoyment through technology begins to replace enjoyment through God's Creation, that is when something needs to change. God did not surround us with so much natural beauty for us to sit inside and ignore it. Nature is, as Mr. Rockefeller said, "a kind of physical and spiritual renewal" because the natural world declares the majesty of God. When we experience nature, we are reminded of the power and glory of Our Lord. It revives our faith in Him, creating the renewal that Laurance Rockefeller spoke of.