I Believe in the Power of Nature

When I’m two thirds of the way through a long Wednesday, feeling myself go crazy but with no time for a nap, I often give myself just one minute. I close my eyes, and for one perfect minute I am lying on my back in Forest Park, looking up at the cracked fragments of sky through the huge, protective canopy of Douglas Fir trees. Of course after those 60 seconds, I have to come back to this realm of existence, but that quick taste of nature is enough to keep me going. It’s nothing like the real thing, but it gets me through the week.

I have never been able to fully subscribe to any ideas of religion. Sure, I appreciate the teachings and lessons, but I have never been able to relate to ancient stories of prophets or gotten any sort of relief from spending time in churches.

I don’t know what it means to be religious, but I have been able to experience the profound, overwhelming, all-encompassing feeling of belonging I imagine spirituality provides. It happens away from other people, in my own place of worship, my own church.

Maybe I’m like an animal in a cage who just needs to touch solid ground once in a while. Or maybe my lungs need a chance to breathe crisp, clean air. Perhaps I just need to have all my senses stimulated to full capacity to feel alive. Whatever the reason may be, being outside, feeling fully connected to this Earth I live on, is my own personal enlightenment.

I believe in making the time to experience this crazy wonderful place we get the honor of living in. While bee stings and thorn scratches can be deterring, I assure you that pain is only temporary. All wounds in time will heal. The complete, fulfilling, incredible feeling of belonging to more than just a body, being tied down to nothing but the very Earth I am made of, however, will never fade.