Finding Peace Through Nature

The current issue of the St. Anthony Messenger, which I subscribe to, had an article entitled Nature's Cathedrals, by Barbara Hughes.  It spoke to me as an antidote to the current toxic overload of dysfunctional politics, be it on the national scene, or ecclesial. Unfortunately it is behind a pay wall, and I can't link to it. But I will quote from the relevant parts:


"Over the years, I've had a continuing love affair with trees.  While growing up in the heartland of America, I discovered early in life that there was something about trees that evoked a deep sense of reverence. Their ability to praise God simply by following the purpose for which they were created awakened in me seeds of contemplation, which I believe are planted in every heart before we are born."
"....I recall spending countless hours lying in the grass, captivated by the sight of mighty oak trees, their leaves rustling in the wind, bowing in solemn adoration....Standing in the shadow of nature's houses of worship, my whole being seemed to be clothed in a velvety silence....The taller the trees, the greater the security I found in my smallness, as I delighted in knowing that I was part of a world so large that only God could wrap his arms around it...Decades later, trees continue to speak to me, serving as gateways to mystery."
"...In retrospect, those early years of tree-gazing have accompanied me into adulthood as an apt metaphor for the seasons of prayer. Much in the same way trees change with the seasons of the year, so our prayer life changes as we pass through the deepening stages of prayer."

I could relate to what the author was saying.  The place where I grew up was surrounded on on four sides with a row of trees; large cottonwoods, elms, and other trees.  This was the "home place", our house and the outbuildings surrounded by the trees in a rectangle. The trees gave a comforting sense of security.  Even now, with the trees aging and some of them falling down, it still feels peaceful to watch the leaves rustling in the wind and the sun flickering on the cottonwood leaves.
There are also plenty of trees where we live now; the streets are tree lined, and there are paths through wooded areas.
I never really got into the Tolkien "Lord of the Rings" series, but one of the movies, I think it was the second one, had some tree-like characters called the "Ents".  They moved and talked ponderously and slowly, and rocked the two kids to sleep that had taken refuge with them. They were some of my favorite characters of that movie.
Sometimes when everything in the news is getting us down, we owe it to ourselves, and God, to step back and exercise some self-care. One of the best ways to do that is to spend time in nature for healing experiences, whether in the trees, or other places where we feel close to creation and the Creator.