Genesis 1:26-31
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows forth his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1
It was that amazing natural historian and broadcaster, Sir David Attenborough, the writer and host of the Life series on BBC who said,
"It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living."
In fact, nature is such a powerful source of connecting to God that even people who don’t believe in God use the language of faith to describe it. E. O. Wilson, one of the foremost biologists of the 20th century who did groundbreaking work on all things fire ants, was a professed atheist but this is what he said! “Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction.” This is what it means when the Psalmist tells us, “The heavens declare the glory of God”. God’s handprints are all over creation.
And so, when you see the goodness of nature you too see the goodness of God. As you recall in the first chapter of Genesis, at the end of several days of creation the phrase “God saw it and it was good.” is repeated to emphasize this goodness.
The Hebrew word for good is TOV. It is a deep rich word. It speaks to beauty both within and without, such as a gorgeous sunset, or an exquisite piece of art, or a kind soul. It refers to those things in the world that are pleasing and beneficial to us such as healthy food and loving relationships. It describes actions that comport to God’s will and describes people who are upright, compassionate, trustworthy, and honest.
Creation is so exceedingly wonderful that simply calling it good wasn’t enough. So, at the end after God has finished the work, “God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.”
Because nature is so very, very good, when we are away from it for too long our spirits wither. Because we are not just spiritual beings or physical beings, we are body, mind, and spirit,and all of them are interrelated and feeding one aspect enriches the others, I’m starving one starves the others.
What does that mean for city dwellers? Especially those who don’t have the financial or physical means to leave the city. If nature is daily inspiration for architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, if it is a place for creativity and professional development for E.O. Wilson, if it is a place simply to embrace our humanity – what does that do to us if we are without it?
Mahatma Gandhi suggested that to be disconnected from nature is to be disconnected from our own selves. “To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.”
Because of this over a century ago a man set out on a mission with an incredible vision. To build a park right smack dab in the middle of the city. Not just a quaint park. Not something tucked away but something central. Something geographically central yes, but also something central to the well-being of New York City and central to the people who call New York City home.
Frank Law Olmstead received the commission to design Central Park with a compelling vision. As reported from various sources:
Once largely owned solely by the wealthy, public parks and civic spaces, Olmsted felt, were 'democratic spaces' that belonged to all Americans. "He believed that well-designed and maintained parks and landscapes have the power to unite and strengthen communities by providing a place of rest and rejuvenation for all, regardless of class, wealth or ethnicity," says Petri. "Long before science confirmed his views, he understood the power of parks to invigorate public health by restoring people's connection to nature.…at a time when cities were dirty, crowded and unhealthy, He called parks the 'lungs of the city' because they were designed to be healthful places for city residents. … in his day, doctors actually started prescribing walks in Central Park as therapy. This was exactly what the landscape architect ordered." *
Central Park has so many incredible features. It was Wendy who pointed out to me that the transverse roads are hidden from view when you are in Central Park. This is so well done I didn’t even realize it! Olmstead, even before cars were invented, saw the importance of keeping traffic away from a place of natural rest and respite. Imagine how diminished Central Park would be today if those transverse roads weren’t sunk below the line of sight and sound! One can walk through the ramble and not even know that you’re in the city. Whether you row on the Lake as you pass under the Bow Bridge, wander through Shakespeare’s Garden or make your way to the overlook from the Belvedere Castle as you look at the Turtle Pond, there are endless nooks and crannies, grassy fields, leafy trees and babbling brooks to connect God’s very good creation.
This is why perhaps we need nature now as much as we ever have.
As we embark on our Lenten journey toward the Cross, we find ourselves in a time of anxious change. And the extent and rapidity of this change across the country and across the globe can ironically lead us to a myopic view. To shrink our world. I recall in my own personal life when I was experiencing some challenging conflict that it often felt as if the entire world and my entire existence revolved around this one issue.
It was very difficult to keep it in perspective to remember that I had my health, and my family, a house and food. Rarely were these problems truly significant in the scheme of things but yet they seemed insurmountable at the time. I was trapped in my own head.
The people of God clearly throughout their history had truly devastating and historic warsand treachery, slavery, and exile. Yet they turned to a source of power that was not contingent upon humanity’s actions – for good or evil. This source of beauty, of peace and comfort is available to us at any time and of course is the handiwork of God; creation itself.
Psalm 19 would have been written during a time of tumult and though many psalms focus on despair and tragedy this one takes a different turn and includes a verse that C.S. Lewis called one of the greatest lyrics in the world, “The heavens declare the glory of God.”
To turn to nature is to turn to God. It reminds us where we came from; it is a source of exquisite beauty. Nature reminds us that whenever we are trapped that there is something amazing and wonderful right around the corner, right around the street, and whatever we are enduring we can know the presence of God when we take a stroll in the park.
And it was Anne Frank, that young girl who we know went through one of the worst times in human history, while hiding in the Annex, she of course wrote her diary and came to a conclusion that seems so wise for one so young:
“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. … I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.” – Anne Frank
When you are in need of knowing there is goodness in this world, that God still reigns supreme, that the world is still spinning no matter what external circumstances may indicate – take time stroll through the park, to wade in the water, to soar in the sky, to climb a mountain, to sit on a grassy field. Be still in the presence of God. Amen.
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