82 – Nature *

Special thanks to Jane (Jane Lurie Photography) for providing the photographs. I encourage readers to visit her at Jane Lurie Photography: Jane’s Lens. All photos are copyrighted by Jane Lurie Photography.

Click the video above for 2 minutes of background waves while reading.

I like walking on the beach. It is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.

When I think of nature, a variety of terms come to mind: surroundings, landscapes, the natural world, creation, Mother Nature, planet Earth, environment, flora, fauna, the living world, and scenery – let alone places such as beaches, forests, meadows, mountain tops, nature preserves, parks, and more.

Nature is the place where the living world and the nonliving physical world interact in a meaningful relationship. Here at the beach, that includes the air, water, light, sand, and rocks meeting the life of the sea and shore – the varieties of fish, crabs, clams, worms, and more – let alone the land bird feasting on the sea – and people, too.

Nature is where living things compete against each other for food, space, shelter, water, and even mates. As many will scowl at the thought of a wolf killing a rabbit, we tend to forget about the wolf needing to care for itself and its offspring.

Nature has a hierarchy. Not in terms of importance – but one of the relationships – a complex order that is subject to changes within nature’s laws governing that order. The hierarchical food chain is in the sand – both at and away from the waterline – plus in the water of the sea and the intercoastal water across the street – as well as in the ponds, lakes, streams, and the river of home in Ohio.

Nature is both the setting and boundaries of science – our delivery system for explaining our surroundings and natural occurrences. Marine biologists and oceanographers have studied these waters for years – and they also do so today and will tomorrow.

Nature – governed by its laws – the way nature works through forces, processes, and interactions. Humans use science to discover that nature is more beautiful than what we see – but science is not going to explore anything beyond the natural world.

The pleasures of nature are for everyone and anyone willing to place themselves in a position of awe and wonder. Nature is a place to ask questions and think about leaves and seeds, sand and rocks, ground and soil, flora and fauna, water and air, countless facets of humanity, and more.

Nature is the setting for human interaction with one another. Our natural surrounding is the setting for the dramatic performances of human history and the common events of each day – including the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Nature has influenced human cultures throughout history. We’ve seen nature as a source of the power of our deities. Through the gods of the sun, moon, and seas, we have placed spiritual significance on eclipses, moon phases, water, and general awe of the heavens through nature. With nature providing a sense of life, purification, and creation, humanity has a history of looking to nature as a creative source to quench other daily needs. Yes, humanity has a long history of valuing nature.

Nature is our surroundings – a place for personal reflections at any given moment. Nature is the surroundings allowing us to temporarily remove ourselves from the trials and tribulations of our everyday world. My time away from home as a snowbird on the beach is more than being in warmer weather for winter – it also is a getaway from the routine of my normal world – which is my life as an alter ego.

Nature is a place we can get lost in its awe. Nature is a place with feathered symphonies, singing insects, moving water, many scents, a spectrum of colors, varying shapes, countless participants, serene views, and so much more. Nature can heighten one’s awareness of just about anything.

This beach is a place where people – including me – value contact with the natural world. This beach is a system of objects and entities with direct and indirect links to all its parts. This beach is a component of nature’s strong, intricate system of parts and processes. Yet, a wonderful place to relax.

Nature is more than something to think about – but thinking about it is good. Meanwhile, I like walking the beach because it is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.

See what other bloggers have posted about adaptations

• A Nature Bath (photos from our collaborator here)
• Nature Waltz (a poem by a visitor here)
• The Two Faces of Nature (an essay)
• I Need Nature like I Need the Sun (an essay with photos)
• Moods of Nature Haiku (poems and photos)

Next Post: Havens – Tuesday 8 June @ 1 AM (Eastern US)

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