Nature

Have you ever really sat back and analyzed how you felt after being out in nature? Do you feel renewed? Do you feel your heart rate slow? Your breathing become easier? Happiness return?

John 15:5 tells us, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

It is no wonder, then, that we feel more at peace when we are in nature. From the dust we were formed and to the dust we will return. A wonderful symbol of just how connected to nature we truly are.

Grounding is a holistic practice that is super easy to do. Ready? Go outside barefoot, find some grass, stand on it. That's it. Allowing the energy of the ground to work with the energy of your body brings a "grounding" experience. It's calming. It's renewing.
If you can manage to find a tall tree while doing this you can up the ante. Stand about 10 feet from the tree (on soil), start your gaze at the trunk and SLOWLY work your gaze upward to the tippity top of the tree. Remember to breathe deeply the whole time. Then begin to draw your gaze back down, SLOWLY. You will feel calmer when you are finished.

What elements are nature bring you the most peace?
For me, it's fresh water - lakes and rivers. I prefer them to be surrounded by trees but I will take rolling hills and even desert. There is just something about the fresh water that stills my soul.
For my husband, it's pretty much anything. He loves Joshua Tree and Yosemite in CA. He loves Mt. Rainier in WA. He enjoys walking or biking on the Greenbelt along the Boise River here in town.
For Dempsey, our cancer kid, it's watching the big cats of the grasslands on documentaries. On a more realistic note, he loves the ocean beach because it's calm.
For our oldest, Sawyer, it's water - seeing or learning about underwater creatures. On the daily he would choose hiking in a forested area or biking along the Greenbelt near the river with his dad.

I have friends who find joy and renewal in their garden or out on a sailboat in the ocean.

I believe the Lord delights in his children enjoying and reveling in his creation. As a parent, I know I enjoy watching my kids explore and discover the natural world.