Phil On ... 

Heaven on Earth
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the positive attributes that nature brings to our mental health and why that should be. I’ve concluded that when you are out on remote footpaths with minimal evidence of human intervention, you are as close to perfection (or ‘heaven on earth’) as you can be. As humans we have the unique and unenviable distinction of being sinners. I believe that the Adam and Eve story is a metaphor for the point in evolution where we developed a conscience; the time when mankind suddenly became clearly aware of the difference between right from wrong.
I once heard an interview with Stephen Fry, an undoubtedly intelligent and engaging personality, in which he ranted about how unfair it was that God allowed suffering through the likes of wars and childhood cancer. What Mr Fry did not understand was that the ultimate expression of love is freewill. God did not want Adam to go against his instructions and sin, but his love was so great that he gave Adam the choice. I am sure many of us will be aware of having to let our teenage children take choices that we disliked but to impose our will at that stage in their life can never represent true love. Of course, taking decisions has consequences and from that point of first sin with Adam our world has descended into deeper injustice and pain.
When we walk in the countryside, we see trees, flowers, insects, birds etc – all free from sin. Even animals such as foxes that kill to eat are doing so by instinct – such acts are not sinful. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that we feel peace and a closeness to God on the occasions we choose to get away from urban life. One of my favourite places to hike is the Cloud near Congleton. The views from the top are sublime and even the limited evidence of humanity (cottages; reservoirs; a railway viaduct) seem to speak of the good that mankind can do in providing shelter, sharing water and connecting people respectively.
One of the best books I have read recently was ‘I belong here’ by Anita Sethi. The book talks about a terrible episode of racist abuse that the author experienced on a train journey and how she used walking in nature to heal herself. There are some wonderful analogies in the book, two of which I recount here. Anita talks about golden buttercups and green grass. There is never any question that the buttercups consider themselves superior on account of their lovely golden petals. If buttercups were sinful like humans they might decide they wanted to distance themselves from the boring grass. But buttercups alone in soil would not be visually appealing. It is the synergy and harmony of buttercups in a grassy field that makes our hearts leap – the analogy to our lives is that we will become happier and more fulfilled if we work together despite differences. In a second analogy the author talks about the scars that appear on hills when underground water erosion leads to a roof collapse. We can choose to see this as something unpleasant or (and this applies to the emotional scars we possess after hurtful comments) we can choose to embrace it as part of what we are – evidence of the life journey we have taken so far and how we have grown stronger from it.
So, I would encourage you all to make the effort to walk in nature on a regular basis. Even areas of a local park can offer a human-free experience that will bring us closer to God.