NATURE, GOD'S PHYSICIAN. 061

Andrew Barrett
Apr 28, 2021
3 min read

Very different post today, but there are many gems to gain from it.

The things of nature are God’s blessings, provided to give health to body, mind, and soul. They are given to the well to keep them well and to the sick to make them well. Connected with water treatment, they are more effective in restoring health than all the drug medication in the world. In nature the sick find many things to call their attention away from themselves and their sufferings. Everywhere they can look upon and enjoy the beautiful things of nature—the flowers, the fields, the fruit trees laden with their rich treasure, the forest trees casting their grateful shade, and the hills and valleys with their varied verdure and many forms of life. {7T 76.3}

Here, you may learn most precious spiritual lessons. Surrounded by the wonderful works of God, your minds are lifted from the things that are seen to the things that are unseen. The beauty of nature leads us to think of the matchless charms of the earth made new, where there will be nothing to mar the loveliness, nothing to taint or destroy, nothing to cause disease or death. {7T 76.4}

Nature is God’s physician. The pure air, the glad sunshine, the beautiful flowers and trees, the orchards and vineyards, and outdoor exercise amid these surroundings, are health-giving—the elixir of life. Outdoor life is a powerful medicine. Its influence is powerful to heal sickness caused by fashionable life, a life that weakens and destroys the physical, mental, and spiritual powers. {7T 76.5}

How grateful to weary invalids accustomed to city life, the glare of many lights, and the noise of the streets are the quiet and freedom of the country! How eagerly do they turn to the scenes of nature! Sit in the open air, rejoice in the sunshine, and breathe the fragrance of tree and flower! There are life-giving properties in the balsam of the pine, in the fragrance of the cedar and the fir. And there are other trees that are health-promoting. Let no such trees be ruthlessly cut down. Cherish them where they are abundant, and plant more where there are but few. {7T 77.1}

For the chronic invalid nothing so tends to restore health and happiness as living amid attractive country surroundings. Here the most helpless ones can be left sitting or lying in the sunshine or in the shade of the trees. They have only to lift their eyes and they see above them the beautiful foliage.

They wonder that they have never before noticed how gracefully the boughs bend, forming a living canopy over them, giving them just the shade they need. A sweet sense of restfulness and refreshing comes over them as they listen to the murmuring breezes. The drooping spirits revive. The waning strength is recruited. Unconsciously the mind becomes peaceful, the fevered pulse calmer and more regular. As the sick grow stronger, they will venture to take a few steps to gather some of the lovely flowers—precious messengers of God’s love to His afflicted family here below. {7T 77.2}

They will be ready to learn lessons in regard to the love of God, ready to acknowledge that He who cares so wonderfully for the birds and the flowers will care for the creatures formed in His own image. {7T 78.1}

I think we underestimate just how much power the simplest things in life have to offer. Many of us cannot take our mind off of ventilators and vaccines. I would like to suggest that in addition to medical and bio-technological advancements, we learn some of the simple things that any individual can associate with to benefit their health.

Health is defined in different ways by different professions. In this post, the term 'health' encompasses the physical and the mental but is founded on having peace with God.

Here are some things I want you to just try to do.

- Behold nature’s beauty, behold flowers and fruit trees laden with treasure.

- Hydrotherapy (the therapeutic use of water, like icing a sprained ankle or taking an alternating hot and cold shower)

- Call your attention away from self and unto God

- Think of an eternity where there will be no disease or death, where Jesus will be

- Sit in the open air and breathe the healing fragrance of various trees

- Rejoice in the glad sunshine

- Breathe the fragrance of tree and flower

- Exercise amid these created wonders of God

- Notice the graceful bend of the branches

- Listen to the murmuring breezes

- Learn and know that He who cares so wonderfully for the birds and the flowers will care for the creatures formed in His own image.