ON LEARNING FROM NATURE

ON LEARNING FROM NATURE - “The happiest man is he who learns from Nature the lesson of worship” (Ralph W. Emerson).  Does learning from Nature how to worship, as Emerson suggests, sound a bit far-fetched?  Perhaps it is.  But the psalmist didn’t think so: “Praise the Lord, sun and moon . . . shining stars. . . hills and mountains, fruit trees and forests; all animals, tame and wild, reptiles and birds” (Psalm 148:3, 9-10 GNT).  And St. Francis of Assisi didn’t think so either: “All creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing Alleluia.”  In that beloved hymn, Francis goes on to encourage the burning sun, silver moon, rushing wind, clouds in heaven, flowing water, and other created things to offer worship and praise to the Creator.  Perhaps there is prevalent throughout creation a consciousness and acknowledgment of a Higher Power upon which all of us are dependent for the life that has been given and for all that is needed to survive.