Part one in a series on connecting with God

There are many ways to connect with God, some direct, some indirect. For those who are trying to develop their spiritual side, the direct methods are best. For others who are not quite ready for that, some indirect methods might be a good place to start.

One indirect way to connect with God is through Nature. That does not mean that we are saying that Nature is God, as some ancient religions did, only that with the right approach, we can learn to see God’s Hand in Nature. Even Jesus would withdraw from the crowds and into Nature occasionally, at least that is what the Bible says. The NIV (New International Version) of the Bible says “Nature is one of God’s beautiful creations.” That is only true of the spiritual side of Nature. The physical side, like everything else material, is the handiwork of the Demiurge. But the creation of the world wasn’t from nothing but from the Spiritual Realm created by the real God. The true beauty of Nature is seen in the Spiritual side of Nature.

“Remember that The Way was taught in accordance with natural and supernatural laws which do not change. That is, The Way, the natural ways of life, the natural ways of nature, the natural ways of supernature, we’ll call it, do not change.” ~Gene Savoy, Sr. (Theology Lecture)

There are many ways to get in touch with God through Nature. Let’s look at a few.

In the Woods

“Listen quietly to the hum of nature, which can be heard.” ~Gene Savoy, Sr.

Hiking, bike riding, or picnicking in the woods is one great way to get in touch with Nature, and with God through Nature. When I lived in Virginia, I would usually make an annual trip to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park (with my parents when they were alive). This park has the advantage that you can drive until you find an area of interest, then park your car and do some hiking. There are also picnic grounds where you can stop and have your lunch if you stay most of the day. In this park, seeing deer is common. Some are so tame that you can pet them. Bears are occasionally seen as well. Don’t try to pet the bears!

I didn’t really think of it that way, but I believe that because I visited Nature with the right state of mind, I did connect with God when I visited. You really feel like you are getting in touch with God’s creation there, at least when you can look beyond the physical to the invisible qualities of the Spiritual.

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving

Snorkeling and scuba diving are ways to connect with God through another part of Nature: the oceans, seas, and lakes. The eternal power and glory of God can certainly be felt in the water if you are spiritually sensitive. I have been fortunate enough to have snorkeled and dived in some of the best locations in the Caribbean. I spent a week on Bonaire island, considered one of the best locations in the world for both shallow scuba diving from shore, and deep-diving off a boat. Many unusual fish and other underwater life forms can be seen in the waters around Bonaire. The photo above is one I took on that trip. I think though that the deep silence you experience when underwater has an effect on the mind that helps you connect with God. And breathing from an air tank can remind you of the Breath of God that creates all things Spiritual.

“In God’s hand is the soul of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” ~Job 12:10

Capturing Nature in Art

“From the Will of God Nature received the Word [Logos], and gazing on the Cosmos Beautiful did copy it, making herself into a cosmos, by means of her own elements and by the births of souls.” ~Gene Savoy, Sr. (Theological Lecture)

Art is another way to connect with God through Nature. Many Bible verses are about praising God through singing, dancing, and other arts. If you are a painter, sculptor, photographer, etc. go out into Nature and try to capture it in your art. Don’t just try to capture the physical appearance, look deeper for the essence of the thing, the spiritual hidden behind the veil of matter. It doesn’t matter if you are an amateur artist or a professional. The important thing is to be out in Nature and observe Nature closely to capture it with your art. Even if you can’t quite capture that essence (few can), you will connect with God in Nature just by trying, but finding God in Nature does require that you try. By working in this way with our hands, we can better understand the work of His hands.

Gardening

Gardening is also a way to connect with Nature and connect with God through Nature, especially if you live in an urban area and can’t easily take walks in the woods or go diving in the ocean. Planting things and watching them grow, sending them love and encouragement as they grow, brings you closer to God.

“Flower in the crannied wall,

I pluck you out of the crannies,

I hold you here, root and all, in my hand,

Little flower—but if I could understand

What you are, root and all, all in all,

I should know what God and man is.” ~Alfred Lord Tennyson

Care for a Pet

Caring for a pet is also a way to get closer to God through Nature. But it must be caring, not simply owning a pet. Many people own pets who think of them as property. You have to care for a pet as part of your family to connect with God.

Summary

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” ~Henry David Thoreau

There are other ways to connect with God through Nature and I can’t think of all of them. The natural world has many wonders if we look for them. Try what works for you. The important thing is attitude. When you go out into Nature, you must have an attitude of looking beyond the physical and into the spiritual behind it, see the Divine Nature behind the physical Nature. Let your visits to Nature be more devotional than terrestrial. You can be a Christian, Jew, Buddist, or any other religion and still seek to connect with God through Nature. Jesus Christ certainly knew how to connect with Nature as some of his most famous miracles involve nature.

“If one could understand a flower as it has its Being in God—this would be a higher thing than the whole world!” ~Eckhart

Hug a tree, feel the spiritual energy in Nature, see the beauty of it. Develop the attitude that everything physical has a hidden spiritual side and try to get in touch with the spiritual.

“Mana is a spiritual as well as a psychic energy. It is not just physical. It pervades all of nature, yet it is apart and separate from nature. And this is an important, perhaps the most important point to remember in this seminar.” ~Gene Savoy, Sr.

Don’t forget to also turn to the sun and the stars. They are part of nature as well, and are closer to God than most other things in the physical universe.

“When you look at the sun and absorb energy, you’re taking. Reflect energy of a noble nature back to the sun, and while you are doing this reflects energy to all living things, as if you are a sun. Be conscious of the sun beating, and be conscious of yourself living, and be conscious of all life living. You will be able to receive energy of a very noble type, and you will not lose energy.” ~Gene Savoy, Sr. (Theological Lecture)

“In the heavens, God has pitched a tent for the sun.” ~Psalm 19

In Cosolargy, we connect with God through Nature and the Sun in a more direct way through our Divine Sunrise Services. We see God’s Presence in the Sun. God’s Voice and God’s Word can be found there in the Spiritual Sun. In Cosolargy, we learn that God’s Light shines best out in the open, in Nature, not in an enclosed church.