God Finds Us In Nature: A Place of Encounter (Pt. 1)

“Where do you most experience God?” 

It was the question that had begun our small group time as we sat on living room couches, paper plates on the floor with mere remnants of dinner tacos. Instead of verbally answering, everyone was handed a blank sheet of paper and a crayon bucket. Our small group study that night was meant to begin with an art show of sorts, as adults clenched rods of colored wax to bring their answers to life. Five minutes later, we were sharing a gallery of drawings, each describing the story behind the scribble. Out of the ten people present that evening, three drew church buildings and church people, with sketches of steepled buildings and crosses. Another person sketched what was supposed to be representative of the new baby in the family, while someone else drew stanzas of music. But the rest of our small group – a majority – all drew similar pictures: Nature scenes. Sunsets and trees, the ocean and a hiking trail. Five of the ten told stories of meeting God — or God meeting them — outside.

Whether you live in an urban setting, in the country, or somewhere in between, there is something about the natural world that connects with us deep inside our bones and within our souls, drawing us to something greater. Among the religious as well as the “spiritual but not religious,” among both those who attend Sunday morning services faithfully and those who haven’t been to church in decades, nature tends to be the response given when people are asked where they have experienced God. Faith aside, three-quarters of American adults admit to feeling wonder about the universe at least several times a year. While church attendance has decreased and the religious “nones and dones” have increased over the past decade, National Parks, local parks, and natural preserves have seen a sharp rise in those camping under their sunsets, visiting their wondrous sites, and traversing their ground. As a friend told me during a recent group hike after she learned that I was a pastor: “THIS is my church.”

Perhaps the distinctively spiritual way we resonate and connect with the natural world is a reminder of the ‘created-ness’ (What is), our Creator (Who is), and the desire for re-creation (What and who we will become) embedded within us. Perhaps people’s fumbling excuses for why they choose to go for a hike rather than sit in a steepled building or storefront are indicative of something the Church needs to learn, reclaim, and demonstrate rather than demonize. Perhaps something happens in the wilds that does not happen anywhere else. Something about the natural world connects with us deep inside our bones and within our souls, drawing us to something greater. Nature tends to be the response given when people are asked where they have experienced God. Click To Tweet

Nature Is Where Humanity Encounters the Divine

Throughout human history, we see that nature was the place humanity first encountered the Divine. Ancient peoples attributed acts of the natural world to supernatural forces and sought to appease or control them to survive and thrive. For thousands of years, human beings have been drawn to the splendor and meditative solitude that the natural world brings. But even in more modern times, the sanctity of nature pops up in descriptions of these places: 

• • Bright Angel Trail (Grand Canyon, AZ)
  • Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs, CO)
  • The Marble Cathedral (Patagonia, Chile)
  • Angel’s Rest (Colombia River Gorge, OR)
  • Mirror of God (‘Salar de Uyuni’ salt flats in Bolivia)

We travel to the world’s most magnificent, mystical locations so that we, too, may find ourselves and find God as well. 

In the Christian faith, we see that the natural world is also where people encountered God and God encountered people. In the Hebrew Scriptures, nature is a place of God’s promise — the rainbow (Genesis 9:12-17), the stars (Genesis 15:1-6), the wilderness (Exodus 16-17), and the Promised Land (Joshua 3-4). It’s also a place of God’s call and voice — the burning bush (Exodus 3), a sun that stood still (Joshua 10:1-15), the still small voice in the cave (1 Kings 19). While God does show up in houses, upper rooms, kings’ courts, prisons, and temples, God frequently shows his faithfulness to people by sanctifying spots in fields, seasides, and deserts that are then marked with stones (1 Samuel 7:12). Maybe that is why when we have a difficult decision to make or are at a transition point in life, it is good for us to find a natural space where the voices of everyday life are quieted and we may better hear that promise or call. 

In early church history, those known as the “Desert Fathers and Mothers” took this idea to the extreme in the third through sixth centuries. Ordinary Christians chose to live a life of prayer and solitude in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and Arabia as a way of deliberately and individually following God’s call. Their journey into the desert was a movement against the rise of the institutional church (which also brought on the construction of church buildings which became sacred places) but mainly a desire for intentional awareness of God’s presence. “Give me a word” is a mantra that the Desert Mothers and Fathers repeated often, a tradition of asking for a word from God that they would then ponder for many months or even years at at time. These barren desert spaces were the sacred places of encounter where the Word “came” to these Christians.

A careful examination of the Gospels reveals that Jesus himself spent most of his three years of ministry outside. It’s estimated that Jesus and his disciples regularly walked upwards of ten miles a day, camped outside, and lived the rugged lifestyle of a roving rabbi. He taught from boats (Matthew 13) and on hillsides (Matthew 5-7), walked through fields (Mark 2:23-3:6) and even spent over a month fasting in the Judean Wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Outside in nature is where the majority of people encountered Jesus and where Jesus encountered most people, sometimes even unexpectedly on the road (Luke 8:40-56). Jesus often used the familiar images of the natural world in his teaching and preaching so that the everyday people of his time, who lived in close proximity to and depended on much of the natural world, would better understand. The Kingdom of God involves wild weeds (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43), vineyards (Matthew 21:33-45), branches (John 15:1-17), sheep (Luke 15:1-7), and fig trees (Mark 11:12-25). Maybe that’s why Christian camping experiences can be so formative in the lives of kids and teens, especially those who don’t fit into a Sunday School or youth group setting – in the wilderness, we come face-to-face not only with our own wandering hearts, but with the heart of Jesus who has created all things. Jesus often used the familiar images of the natural world in his teaching so that the everyday people of his time, who lived in close proximity to and depended on much of the natural world, would better understand. (1/2) Click To Tweet The Kingdom of God involves wild weeds, vineyards, branches, sheep, and fig trees. (2/2) Click To Tweet

THREE REFLECTIVE EXERCISES TO ENCOUNTER GOD IN NATURE

If possible, before reading Part 2 of “God Finds Us In Nature,” subtitled “An Environment of Healing,” carve out some intentional time to be with God in a beautiful, natural space. We encourage you to get outdoors this weekend!

1. Take a hike with God. (1-4 hours)

Visit a local park, nature trail, preserve, or beach at a time that is different than you would visit for recreation (and when there are fewer people around). Early morning, sunset, and even in the nighttime (be sure it’s allowed) are good options, especially in summer. Start off the walk with a simple prayer, ending with “God, Give me a Word.” Walk without talking for 10-30 minutes, using all your senses to fully take in your surroundings. Then choose a spot to stop that seems right to you. Take the next ten minutes to simply listen. What do you hear in your heart? What do you hear from the natural world? What do you hear from God? After ten minutes, continue on the trail or turn around if time is more limited. Stop at least once more to listen, this time for a shorter amount of time. When you get back to your starting point, write down what you felt as you entered and exited, anything interesting you noticed, and perhaps a Word from God that entered your heart.

2. Revisit a place in nature that was pivotal in your journey of faith.

Did you come to faith at a church camp or Christian conference center? Did you frequent a certain trail or place by the water when you were going through a trial or time of doubt? Is there a natural location you used to visit growing up or with parents or grandparents? If possible, go back. As you visit, remember not only what took place but thank God for what he was doing in your life at the time and where you are now.

3. Take several church members for an outdoor prayer meeting and/or walk together.

Meet in someone’s backyard, at a park, or on church property—even after dusk (just bring the bug spray!) You may choose to prayer walk your community in small groups of 2-3 for 30-40 minutes, praying for the homes and places you pass, asking God for eyes to see the people and environment around you. Come back to sit outside and share together what you sensed or saw and pray for your corner of the world, others in your group, and finally each person gathered. Those who are mobility challenged can remain at your original site with a map of the area, praying over map locations as the others walk. Perhaps the distinctively spiritual way we resonate with the natural world is a reminder of the ‘created-ness’ (What is), our Creator (Who is), and the desire for re-creation (What and who we will become) embedded within us. (1/3) Click To Tweet Perhaps people’s fumbling excuses for why they choose to go for a hike rather than sit in a steepled building are indicative of something the Church needs to learn, reclaim, and demonstrate rather than demonize.(2/3) Click To Tweet Perhaps something happens in the wilds that does not happen anywhere else. (3/3) Click To Tweet

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