In mid-April, nature blooms forth in color and new spring beauty. It’s a good thing because our souls have likely become weary with the harshness of winter. Spring feels gentler, more pastel, arriving in stages. We cherish the grasses sprouting, the trees budding, the flowers blooming, the blue water flowing again. We can imagine God’s hand painting a new living artwork of our world season after season. Nature heals us; why would it not? It is God’s Creation! This whole of God’s creation is of course worthy of our appreciation, but more than that, all of nature, as God’s design, deserves a mutually loving relationship with us. Job 12:10 says, “In God’s hand is the soul of every living thing” (emphasis mine). We were made to thrive within nature, not control it. A century ago, Luther Standing Bear, author, actor and son of the great Lakota Chief Standing Bear said, “Man’s heart away from nature becomes hard.” I believe he meant that “hard hearts” are not compassionate and loving hearts, and when we lose our connection to nature, we begin to lose connection to one another. Recent research shows that communities with access to green space demonstrate more social cohesion and civic engagement. It is possible that by practicing care for our Mother Earth we will also nurture greater love and compassion among our fellow humans.

By Stephanie Palubicki, OblSB