“If I become the vibrational frequency of love, harmony, peace, and I’m radiating that, it’s going to show up in my life.” ~ Michael Bernard Beckwith
Welcome to Day 16!
Here at Mountain Zen Den we talk a lot about tapping into Nature for mindfulness and personal growth. But what does that really mean?
Personal development involves seeking our deeper, truer selves and becoming the best “You” that you can be. It means becoming a more authentic and caring individual. One who gives more than he takes. One that others are drawn to because they find wisdom, compassion and empathy in their presence. One whose heart’s desire is to help make the world a better, more beautiful place.
You’d be hard pressed to find a spiritual leader, or wise and caring person who was not deeply rooted to Nature. Nature has been called, “God’s other book”, and many naturalists such as John Muir have regularly gone to the mountains to commune with their Creator.
And while it would be easy to argue that Nature is amoral, meaning that it does not intentionally choose “right” or “wrong’, “good” or “bad”, “love” or “hate”, Nature does have the capability of inspiring and humbling us to be kinder, more caring, gentle and yes, more loving.
The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. It is not caring.
Nature calls us to care.
In its huge, limitless vastness, wonderful mystery, and unpredictable consistency, Nature offers hope and beauty and light. Through love and respect and admiration of its perfect simplicity and majestic grandeur, it calls us to care; to love and preserve and protect.
This deep love and respect can be nurtured and strengthened, shared and passed on, paid forward if you will, as a result of time spent in God’s great natural world; the original world that existed before man ever took his first step.
Everything we do echoes through eternity… There is a ripple effect that begins with you and me and the choices we make every day.
Today as you venture out into the big, beautiful world on the other side of your doorstep, try spending some quiet time alone, knowing that Nature helps us rise above the clouds of confusion and insignificance that getting caught up in our lowly man-made world entangles us in. Resolve to be a little more reflective and thoughtful than usual. This intention allows us the ability to look deeper, and work on ourselves in a joyful and freeing way; to become more loving.
Michael Bernard Beckwith says, “You have to embrace yourself, you have to forgive yourself, you have to love yourself. And when you can fall in love with yourself and like yourself, now you can be with others.” This embracing begins in stillness, and is greatly enhanced in the natural world.
To find and understand true love, try looking a little deeper and reflect on the meaning and purpose behind all the beauty and patterns and designs found in Nature in the first place.
Where there’s a design, there’s a Designer. I’m just saying.
We’re not here to hound and pound on religion or religious views. There are plenty of other places where you can find that. We’re just here to point to the design and let your heart open to all that follows; to affirm truth wherever it may be found.
May you find and feel signs of love in your wild wanderings today…
Checklist for Day 16
☐ MEDITATION:Day 16 – “Living Love” active meditation (Be sure to listen to this active meditation on iTunes or here at Mountain Zen.)
☐ NATURE WALK: Spend 20 minutes in Nature being a little more thoughtful and reflective. Ask, “How has the world around me made me a better person? How can I be a kinder, more thoughtful and caring friend/father/mother/family member/neighbor/ co-worker/human being? How can I make the world around me a better place?”
☐ JOURNAL: Share any insights that may have come to you, and especially what you are most grateful for today.
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