“Nature has enough spirit to transform our limited vision.” Rosemary Gladstar
Life, like the many landscapes of our planet, has various aspects to it. It can be beautiful and full of wonder and excitement, and it can also be treacherous and dark at times. Like the mountain peaks, we can soar at our best moments, or similar to the bottom of the ocean, we can live in darkness that seems bleak and neverending. Just like the multiple terrains of our beautiful planet, such is life with the peaks and valleys and everything in between.
Nature can be inspiring and healing, or it can be destructive and forceful. But just like our planet, in order to live well and be healthy, we need balance. For it is through our greatest struggles in life that we learn to appreciate and be grateful for the good times. If there wasn’t any contrast, how would we learn to appreciate the sunshine after the rain? Even if it seems like it, life is never all good or all bad. When life gives us challenges, we can sit and feel defeated or choose to look for the lesson and growth opportunity and keep moving towards a better day. Be grateful for the good days and get through the rough days knowing that nothing is constant, except God. If you have ever felt the depths of despair, you have also seen it pass. Keep walking toward the light and you will find it. Our deepest wounds are healed by Faith.
How we move through life has a lot to do with the perspective from which we choose to see it. Rain, for example, can be seen as gloomy and depressing or it can be replenishing and invigorating. When we go through something that is painful, we often lose sight of the blessings that are also ever-present. During times of struggle, what can help is purposefully focusing on what is good in our life. I often tell people that we are all on a spectrum. There is always someone who has it better than us, and there is someone who has it worse. Sometimes it helps to put our lives into perspective when we consider someone who has it worse and say a prayer for them. It doesn’t discount the validity of what we are going through, it can just help us to see our life with more clarity. There is always something to be grateful for.
Nature is one of the most powerful examples of God’s presence. Sit in nature when you feel defeated, depressed, or unable to find any blessings. Our Earth has so many incredible facets. Choose something beautiful to focus on, whether small like a flower, or as vast as the ocean or mountains. Always remember that God’s love and light are never far. Life has many landscapes and when you are experiencing one that is dark and gloomy, remember to hold on to faith and hope, and the beauty of God’s blessings is never far.