“Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty.” John Ruskin
Happy Monday!
What a lovely weekend! After a week of gloom and clouds here in beautiful SoCal, Saturday and Sunday did not disappoint. I trust you enjoyed your time with friends and family, and I hope you are optimistic about the week ahead.
Tomorrow is Earth Day. It began on April 22, 1970, and has become a global expression of environmental stewardship. This year’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet,” which calls for “everyone to unite around renewable energy so we can triple clean electricity by 2030,” according to earthday.org. I don’t know where you stand on the subject, but helping to protect our planet sounds like an informed decision.
I found this poem that I like from Percy Bysshe Shelly. I thought, in honor of the day, I’d share it with you here:
Away, away, from men and towns,
To the wild wood and the downs,
To the silent wilderness,
Where the soul need not repress its music.
I also found this quote from John Ruskin, an English writer, lecturer, and art historian who wrote on many subjects, including botany and ornithology:
Both authors I’ve highlighted seem to possess a keen understanding of the importance of nature and how it nourishes our thirst for beauty amid the complexity of the world around us. Shelley wrote about how our souls need to escape the daily grind and find solace in the quiet to hear our inner music. Ruskin marvels at the intrinsic and ever-changing tapestry we are privileged to enjoy. We truly live in a beautiful place where we can rejuvenate our weary souls by relaxing peacefully.
Scripture shares insight on nature and peace:
“Yes, the sparrow too has found a home there; the swallow has found herself a nest where she can lay her young beside your altar.” Psalm 84:3a (CEB)
“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters; He refreshes my soul.” Psalm 23:2-3 (NIV)
There’s definitely a correlation between nature and peace. Sometimes, I think we forget how precious our natural resources are and how important it is to manage them in the best possible way. It can be as simple as cleaning our area when we’re at the park or a campground. Maybe we can volunteer to beautify a section of the neighborhood. Perhaps we can be a part of planting trees or creating gardens that produce flowers or vegetables. We have many options to help maintain and enhance the world around us.
Why not take some time this week to think about what we can do, individually and collectively, to make our neighborhoods lovelier. Or look at the way our communities are engaging in Earth Day activities. One year, when my girls were young, we released butterflies we had nurtured at the Kids’ Space Museum in Pasadena. It was so much fun. No matter what we choose, our efforts will help future generations and set good examples for our children and grandchildren ~ even the four-legged ones ~ as we enjoy the infinite beauty!
Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda
