The back cover of the book succinctly states, "In Ask the Beasts -- Darwin and the God of Love, bestselling author and leading academic Elizabeth A. Johnson expounds upon the notion that love of the natural world is an intrinsic element of faith in God and that far from being an add-on, ecological care is at the centre of moral life."
Having read this book during my second year of grad school I remember finding the book to be somewhat of a letdown, yet even so 4 or 5 years later I still find myself regularly talking about or at the very least reminding myself to "ask the beasts."
Yesterday I was reminded of this idea and had the thought while driving to Grand Haven. It was about 5:30pm the sun was setting and the trees along the highway were beautiful. Fall truly is a beautiful time of year in West Michigan and the various changing colors of the leaves did not disappoint last night.
As I drove and looked at the trees I couldn't help but marvel at their beauty, even those couple of trees completely bare with no leaves at all anymore were stunning. Then came this nagging sensation deep from within and pressing to the forefront of my mind...Nature is trying to teach us something. These trees standing tall and proud some with beautiful leaves others with bare branches and still others covered with evergreen pines...they are trying to teach us something.
Every year as nature goes through her cycles she calls out to us, she subtly and sometimes not so subtly hints to us that it is ok to let go. It is ok to change and grow. It is ok to be burdened at times and droop, it is ok to go through our own seasons of life, growth, decay, and even death.
If we are willing to take a moment, to "ask the beasts" to listen to the trees, to pay attention to the natural world around us we may just be struck dumb with how much nature is trying to teach us. As I sit writing this I greatly look forward to time spent this weekend being still and listening to and watching nature as she tries to teach me.
Peace and Blessings Always
~M
Quote taken from Dominican Center at Marywood Facebook page's post from July 26, 2021
Picture taken on campus by me.
Thanks for sharing lessons learned as you "ask the beasts." I am fortunate to have time to walk around a beautiful "people- constructed" pond that is surrounded by God created trees and plant life and filled with fish, ducks, and a wonderful sometime seen blue heron. When wise enough to pay attention to God's creatures I have also seen budding, blooming, flourishing, falling and, sometimes, dying from the magnificent plantlife. Animal life also sends message of arriving, multiplying, leaving, and returning. Gifts from the creator abound!
ReplyDeleteSometimes we simply need to take the time and be open to seeing things around us as gifts.
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