God provides
by Renée Simpfendorfer
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O Lord, how manifold are your works! (Psalm 104:24a)
Read Psalm 104:24–35
I love to walk in nature. I hear the crunch of bark beneath my feet and the songs of birds hidden in the trees. I smell the soothing oil of the eucalypts. I see the brilliant autumn colours, with fiery flame trees heralding the feast of Pentecost. I feel the fresh air fill my lungs, my thoughts quietening, my heart opening.
I am grateful that, despite my urban living, I am surrounded by gardens, parks and nature reserves. I am heartened that more people recognise the many physical, mental and spiritual health benefits of time in nature. In Japan, some doctors even prescribe ‘forest bathing’ for their patients!
There is a mountain near my home that is especially healing for me. Sometimes, when I go there, I arrive feeling overwhelmed by a particular emotion or challenge. The densely wooded mountain envelops me like a kind of divine embrace. At the end of my walk, I am delivered back into the world with my soul restored.
How wonderful it is to come close to the creator in creation! God is our creator, provider and sustainer. God opens his hands and fills us with good things – not just for our physical bodies but also our minds and hearts. God continues to create and renew us by his presence, his Spirit. We rejoice and sing to the Lord!
What practices help you to know God’s presence? Do you have a favourite place in which to be renewed by God’s presence?
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
Deep peace of the gentle night to you,
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you.
Deep peace of Christ, the light of the world to you.
Deep peace of Christ to you.
(Traditional Celtic Prayer)
Renée lives on Ngunawal country with her family and belongs to the community at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, ACT. She works as a teacher and enjoys listening to music, reading, walking in nature and the challenge of solving cryptic crosswords.
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