Actually, this post has a lot to do with my favorite poet, William Wordsworth. (To read one of my favorite poems of his, click here)Wordsworth is one of the most famous British Romantic Poets now, but he wasn't quite as popular when he was alive. You see, Wordsworth, in his younger years, was considered a radical in pretty much every way, and the conservative British people frowned on that. One of the reasons Wordsworth was considered a radical was because of his belief that Nature, in a way, acts as God. Basically, he believed that if you wanted to be close to God, you merely had to spend time in Nature because God, as a divine being, exists in Nature. He also believed that if you could spend time in Nature and not be touched, then you were doing things in your life to deprive you from attaining salvation.
Now, I wont say that I agree with Wordsworth 100%, but I definitely think he was on to something. In Alma we learn that all things testify of Christ, and if we pay attention in nature, it's easy to see how true that is.
The reason I bring this up is because today, I went on a Geology-specific hike up Rock Canyon on a field trip for a class that I am taking. Though I learned mostly about earthquakes, faults, sedimentary rock, metamorphic rock, and the state Utah was in 800 million years ago, I couldn't help but look around me and just be in absolute awe at God's creations. I truly felt close to God as I contemplated nature and admired the general splendor of the canyon. The leaves are changing for autumn
everything looked beautiful. There really is a certain majesty about the Wasatch Mountains that effects me in ways I almost can't explain. So, I just took the two hours I was there to take it all in while it's green and golden, because I know that soon it will all be white.
But like Wordsworth, I truly believe that God exists in Nature. Though, I don't believe that he exists solely in nature, I know that his creations can help to bring us closer to him and I'm very grateful for that opportunity.
2 comments:
Lovely post. (I'm being completely sincere. In case that came out as sarcastic.) I wish more people realized how easy it is to feel the Lord when you're in the middle of the beauty he created. On that note, my field trip was for forestry. What was yours?
Whoa. I guess if I'd read closer I would have known the answer to that question. I took that geology class, I think.
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