Beautiful sunrise and clear blue sky. Red-breasted nuthatch at a feeder. These are two "look and listen" moments to start this day and this month of February. As some of you know, last Sunday I invited members of Trenton United Church to pay attention to the natural world or Creation during the month of February, day by day. It is tempting to hole up and miss the beauty of the world around us in the depth of winter but I was inspired after hearing a CBC interview withpsychology professsor Dr. Holli-Anne Passmore about her research into the mood-altering benefits of even the small aspects of attending to nature.
I sought Dr. Passmore out and she kindly gave me an hour of her time for a chat. She was delighted to hear that our congregation is embarking on this project and wants to know how it goes. As we meandered about in conversation we spoke about the "re-enchantment" of the world, the intentional effort to reconnect with nature. While Indigenous peoples everywhere understand this our Christian faith somehow drifted away from appreciating Creation. For some it was the fear of pantheism, even though there are countless passages encouraging us to recognize the Creator in all things. As I mentioned a few days ago, Holli-Anne chuckled at my observation that Jesus did a lot of his best work "en plein air." The gospel of Mark tells us that Jesus climbed a hillside early in the day to pray in preparation for the demands of his ministry.
I have been pleasantly surprised to hear from folk who are already "listening and looking with Jesus." One was on her way to a follow-up appointment after major surgery and noticed snow-rollers in a field, a curious phenomenon from the recent high winds.
I hope you'll join in this spiritual exercise during the next 28 days. The description is below and all you need is a calendar.
“Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”
― poet Mary Oliver
"When people notice nature, and not necessarily even just spend extra time, but just [notice] it, we know it enhances our positive emotions…"
Dr.Holli-Anne Passmore -associate professor of psychology at the Concordia University of Edmonton who studies the correlation between nature & well-being
You are invited to take time each day during the month of February to pay attention to
the natural world we Christians call Creation. We will look, listen, engage all
of our senses, for a few minutes or longer during this shortest month. You
might:
Notice your houseplants or the lengthening days from the comfort indoors
Pay attention to the birds at feeders (or the squirrels!)
Go for a walk, skate, ski & consider tracks in the snow, ice on the bay/river, the changing sky, birdsong
Create a snow angel (providing you can get back up again!)
Jot down what you experienced in the squares of the February calendar page, or perhaps create a tiny drawing.
On Sunday March 2 you’ll have the opportunity after worship to share what was meaningful
for you as you paid attention to the world around you.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, whatyou will wear… Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenlyFather feeds them…. Matthew 6: 25 -26 NRSVue
CBC The Current interview with Dr. Passmore
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/audio/9.6612459
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