Contemplating nature, a form of prayer?

When we speak of prayer, we think directly of a moment of recollection during which we are isolated from the rest of the world, to place ourselves in the presence of God and contemplate him in all his beauty. We don't necessarily think of contemplation in nature, or of anchoring ourselves in the present moment. However, it's also possible to give thanks, to pray as we go about our day, during a walk in the forest, or while admiring the early morning birdsong. Nature is an inexhaustible source of beauty, bringing us sweetness and comfort. It is also, and above all, regarded as a prayer in the Christian religion. So how is contemplating nature prayer?

Meditation, contemplation, the present moment, mindfulness

Meditation, contemplation, the  present moment and mindfulness are subjects that concern and interest us today, although some are more sensitive to them than others. Some people regularly practice meditation for reasons of well-being or mental health, while others consider it a form of prayer in its own right. Meditation consists in silencing the agitation in our minds, pausing our thoughts to concentrate on our natural environment. By putting our senses into action (hearing, smell, touch, speech and taste), we shift our focus away from ourselves and towards the outside world. This is the main difference between contemplating nature as a prayer and mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness invites us to enter into ourselves, to focus on our emotions and feelings in the face of external elements. Praying while contemplating nature decenters us from ourselves, to open us up to creation and the Author of that creation. Instead of focusing on our internal feelings, whether positive or negative, we are invited to give thanks for our existence and for the abundance of life everywhere in the world, made possible by God.

Contemplating nature or giving glory to God

By contemplating the elements of nature, we admire not only its pure beauty, but also the wisdom hidden from all eternity behind its existence: God the Father. From the very beginning of the world, nature has been at man's disposal, to contribute to his happiness. Man is responsible for this nature, insofar as it is the physical sign of the Lord's power and goodness.

It's quite possible to take a few moments, at some point in our day, to stop and admire God through scenes in nature. Here are a few examples:

• By concentrating on your breathing, you can admire the life force within you. You can give thanks to God for the life he gives you at every moment.
• Guide-link  id=6467 text="marche méditative" lang=en]: as you walk, you can become aware of each step that gives rhythm to your walk, and contemplate this functional and complex body, which is the work of God and the temple of the Holy Spirit.
• Through silent observation, you can settle down in a propitious spot and admire the scenes of nature that unfold before your eyes. In this way, you can anchor yourself in the present moment and meditate on the life that God gives to every living being, at every moment.
• By contemplating sounds, you can close your eyes at any time and listen to the sounds around you: are they natural or artificial? How do they bear witness to God's splendor?

5 Bible verses on nature

Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; (Romans 1:20).

But now ask the beasts to teach you, the birds of the air to tell you; Or speak to the earth to instruct you, and the fish of the sea to inform you. (Job 12:7-8)

For the leader. A psalm of David. (Psalm 19:1).

How varied are your works, Lord! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. (Psalm 104:24).

Out of the ground the Lord God made grow every tree that was delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9)

Find more verses on creation, especially on animals.

Would you like to enrich your inner life and draw closer to God ?