Noticing Nature 留心大自然

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Dexu Xia

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May 13, 2021, 3:52:18 AM5/13/21

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Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Matthew 6:26

A friend and I recently visited a favorite walking spot of mine. Climbing a windswept hill, we crossed a field of wildflowers into a forest of towering pines, then descended into a valley where we paused a moment. Clouds floated softly above us. A stream trickled nearby. The only sounds were birdsongs. Jason and I stood there silently for fifteen minutes, taking it all in.

As it turns out, our actions that day were deeply therapeutic. According to research from the University of Derby, people who stop to contemplate nature experience higher levels of happiness, lower levels of anxiety, and a greater desire to care for the earth. Walking through the forest isn’t enough, though. You have to watch the clouds, listen to the birds. The key isn’t being in nature, but noticing it.

Could there be a spiritual reason for nature’s benefits? Paul said that creation reveals God’s power and nature (Romans 1:20). God told Job to look at the sea, sky, and stars for evidence of His presence (Job 38–39). Jesus said that contemplating the “birds of the air” and “flowers of the field” could reveal God’s care and reduce anxiety (Matthew 6:25–30). In Scripture, noticing nature is a spiritual practice.

Scientists wonder why nature affects us so positively. Maybe one reason is that by noticing nature we catch a glimpse of the God who created it and who notices us.

Since nature isn’t God, and vice versa, how do you think He can be seen through it? How can you take a few minutes today to notice His care through His creation?

God of heaven, earth, streams, and birdsongs, I worship You today

你们看那天上的飞鸟，也不种，也不收，也不积蓄在仓里，你们的天父尚且养活它。—马太福音6章26节

最近我跟朋友踏上我最喜爱的健行路线。爬上迎风坡，穿越一片野花，进入高耸的松树林，再沿着下坡走到山谷，我们便稍作停留。云朵飘浮于上，附近溪水潺潺流淌，万籁俱静，只闻鸟啭。我们驻足了一刻钟，享受美好的一切。

其实，我们那天所经历的一切都有益健康。根据德比大学的研究，那些驻足凝视大自然的人会有较高的幸福感，较低的焦虑感，且会更想要保护自然环境。但只是步行穿越森林是不够的。你必须观看云朵，聆听鸟叫。关键不在于身处大自然，而在于留心大自然。

大自然的益处是否具有属灵的含义？保罗说所造之物揭示上帝的永能和神性（罗马书1章20节）。上帝要约伯观看海洋、天空、星辰，就能看见祂确实存在（约伯记38-39章）。耶稣说，当人们想想“天上的飞鸟”、“野地的花”，就能明白上帝的看顾，而减低心中的焦虑不安（马太福音6章25-30节）。从圣经的观点看来，留心大自然是一种属灵操练。

科学家仍在探索为何大自然对人类会有正面的影响。或许其中一个原因就是，经由留心大自然，我们得以瞥见那位创造大自然并顾念我们的上帝。

既然大自然并非上帝，上帝也并非大自然，
人们如何透过大自然看到上帝呢？今天你要如何花些时间，
透过观看受造物而思想上帝的看顾？