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How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty (Psalm 111:2-3a, NLT).
Recently, an e-news article I was reading referred to a book titled Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness.
HHHHMMMHHM! Taking a bath in the woods — a little too risqué for me, and probably an irrevocable visual curse to someone who sees me!
The article I read in my e-news explained that “forest bathing” (their term) boosts our immune system, lowers blood pressure, and helps with depression. The article listed bone-fide research backing up their claims of the benefits of “forest bathing.”
“Uh, oh,” I thought, as I walk regularly in a wooded area next to Yellow Springs, a small village close to my house known to be inhabited by zealous nature lovers.
Fortunately, as I continued reading, I learned that “forest bathing” refers to taking long walks, fully clothed, in a forest. “Whew,” I thought, “it’s walking/hiking and not the alternative because Yellow Springs is known for ‘alternative,’ and I don’t want my future walks spoiled with irrevocable visual curses!”
Recovering from my imaginative misadventures about “forest bathing” and considering that with all things created in and through Jesus (John 1:3), we should enjoy being renewed by God’s presence in nature.
Let’s all plan long walks in a forest.
The article from the e-news then stated that the optimum time for long walks should be four to six hours to receive the most benefits, with the benefits lasting for a month.
Let’s all plan four to six-hour walks once a month!
The day I read the article, I also read a book by a Christian author who called walks in a forest “glory baths,” not “forest bathing.”
A side note: This happens to me often: reading one thing and later the same day reading about the same topic from a different source. Getting spontaneously matched sources, I assume two things: that God wants me to write an Interruptions on the topic and that I should probably read less and take more walks!
With God as Creator, we can see His handiwork, feel His presence, and sometimes hear His voice. As Job 12:7-10 reads. . .
But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind (ESV).
And the prophet Isaiah concurs. . .
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! (Isaiah 6:3b)
I enjoy taking walks, and my bike rides wander through fields and woods. Our created spirit, soul, and body can be renewed by spending just a few hours enjoying the Spirit’s work in nature.
I appreciate the imagery of the phrase “glory bath” as an immersive experience in a forest — but let’s remember to worship the Creator, not the created.