I was sitting outside on a warm fall day, enjoying the sights of the outdoors. So often, we’re busy moving about, going here and there, that we don’t take enough time to just stop, be still, and listen to nature.
I sat back, closed my eyes, and asked nature to speak to me. At that time, I felt the sun shining brightly on the left side of my face. I could feel the warm rays on my skin. The warmth continued for a few minutes and surprisingly as soon as it stopped, I felt a cool breeze on the right side of my body. No joke, as soon as the sun stopped, the breeze began. So, I sat still with my eyes still closed and felt the wind blowing on the right side of my face. While it was a gentle wind, it was strong enough to blow the chimes in the yard and I heard one melodious sound.
It felt as though nature was speaking to me in that moment, showing me its facets, beauty and strength. And asking me to help protect it. Why would God create such a beautiful world to have it be destroyed?
As I opened my eyes and looked around, it was as if I saw my backyard with new eyes. More open and more aware. I even heard differently, as I listened to squirrels chirping back and forth with each other, even though they were in different trees at least 50 years away from each other. But that didn’t matter, they were having a very lively conversation.
It occurred to me that the sun, wind, and animals have a role to play, and they are fulfilling their role. But I wondered about myself. Was I fulfilling mine? What I heard and felt that afternoon was that my role should include loving, cherishing and protecting nature, and in doing so nature will continue to love, cherish and protect me.
Here are some ways you can love and cherish nature, and protect the planet.
Have you listened to nature lately? What is it telling you?