Jesus Always Turned to Nature

Jesus always turned to nature: 

Jesus always turned to nature, parables that offered keen insight into out own hearts and minds were so often based upon the natural world, and for his own solace he would retreat to the surrounding wilderness to find peace. He was a man intimate with the land and its creatures, basing many of his sermons on plants and birds, instructing us on how to live as if we truly belonged to the nature. 

and of course we do. 

by almost every account the spiritual leaders and prophets we adore were products of the land, feeling kinship with earth and animals. They would head to the wilderness to cleanse their minds and return with hearts steeped in love. I am often struck how clear this is in Christian teachings, most especially with Saint Francis of Assisi and his deep love for animals, portraying Jesus in the first Christmas crib sleeping peacefully in the manager amidst his animal friends. 

originally, and for much time after...

Christianity wasn't removed from the land. 

until it was.

it should be remember that Jesus's ministry was held outdoors, a cathedral of clouds and wind, bird songs in choir, trees and flowers in adornment. Our first church. That's the church we must return to, living the parables as truths, intimately so, trusting that we are cared for in similar fashion as birds and the lilies of the field.  Jesus always turned to nature, urging his followers to look within to find the kingdom, not far off in a distant heaven, but here, through our connection to the land. 

earth. 

for the sake of disclosure I should mention that I'm not a christian, nor religious in anyway. But I belong fully to that first church of nature, trusting Jesus at his word, that we will find heaven within our own hearts, here, right now, if we only turn within. 

that's all we're asked to do.

as Jesus always turned to nature...

so should we.

caring for our kingdom. 

~

Peace, Eric