The Earth speaks!

 

Global warming, greening projects, and other environmental concerns, have become an inescapable part of our daily news. While scientists focus on the How’s in regards to such natural occurrences, people of faith contemplate the Why’s; but there is something just as important as the Why’s and the How’s of nature. There are valuable lessons planted in the Earth that we don’t recognize that can teach us how to live, grow, and be wise. The Bible says, “They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9) The book of Psalms states, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)

What is the lesson found in this nature shot?

Teaching motivational lessons using nature as the instructor is not new, or New Age. Jesus, his disciples, and other great writers of the Bible used creation over and over in the scriptures to teach so that people could understand and relate to the message.  They referred to the vine and the branches, the fig tree, living water, mountains, valleys, seasons, soil, weeds, fruit, seeds, harvest, drought, storms, and even the stars!

Whether here in the United States or Third World, nature is a universal language that everyone understands, no matter what religion, faith, denomination, nationality, age, profession, or income.   Albert Einstein once said, "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better;"  the Koran states, “He created the skies and the earth for truth (Koran 39:5);  Helen Keller wrote, “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow;” The fourteenth Dalai Lama said “According to Buddhist teaching, there is a very close interdependence between the natural environment and the sentient beings living in it;” Mohandas K. Gandhi proclaimed, “To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves,"  and George Washington Carver said, "Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for the speak with the voice of God."? 

Photography by Joanne Taylor

Nature illustrates visible and tangible messages of hope, help, and inspiration. The Earth speaks! (Habakkuk 2:14) For example; did you know that an oak tree doesn't produce acorns until it's at least 50 years old?   You’re never too old to grow and bloom. Have you ever walked down a city sidewalk and observed a green plant growing in the middle of the concrete or noticed a flower springing forth in the midst of brick wall? It signifies that, we too, can survive and even bloom in the most difficult circumstances. God has given us visible and tangible illustrations on Earth whereby He surrounds us with His wisdom for successful living, as well as, messages of hope, help, and inspiration. What awaits us outside of our front door is nearer to God than religion itself, because the Earth was fashioned by the hand of God; religion was fashioned by man.  

Here lies the cause of addiction

The Earth provides motivation through creation by teaching us how to climb higher mountains, choose narrow paths, travel through dark valleys, weather the storms of life, bloom in hard places, shine like a precious gem, and dig deeper. Do you want to build a business? Take notes from God’s creation and start with a good foundation. Do you want to build better relationships? Start weeding out your garden. Do you want change in your life? Study the seasons. Do you want to grow? Learn to appreciate rainy days and stormy weather. Do you want be a better parent? Study how to care for seedlings and wildflowers. Do you want to become a wiser person? Learn from those wise old trees. Do you want to climb higher mountains? Learn how to travel down into the valley. In order to survive life’s insanity; learn from God’s green Earth; it’s where divinity meets humanity.    

MORE NATURE QUOTES FROM RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND FAMOUS PEOPLE:     

JOANNE IS ALSO THE PHILADELPHIA GARDENING EXAMINER:  CLICK HERE: 

READ OTHER ARTICLES ON NATURE AND SPIRITUALITY FROM JOANNE

Seeds for success, Pt. 1 

Seeds for success, Pt. 2

Precious Gems

http://www.examiner.com/x-27475-Nature--Spirituality-Examiner~y2009m10d31-Precious-gem-or-buried-treasure