EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2021 I began a new venture writing a newspaper column titled "Finding Faith" for the Forum Communications Co. network of newspapers and websites. I was asked to contribute to the company's ongoing conversation about faith, lending a Lutheran and fairly ecumenical approach to the discussion. The column was published in several of the company's papers and websites, including The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. This column originally appeared as a "Finding Faith" column on Aug. 4, 2023.
By The Rev. Devlyn Brooks
I can understand why so many people say that they find their church out in nature.
I hear that sentiment a lot from people, who then kind of avert their eyes so ours won’t meet, while sheepishly kicking at the imaginary dust on the ground. As if this is a feeling of which to be ashamed!
I recently found myself in a small fishing boat, on a quiet bay on a beautiful northern Minnesota lake, sharing company with only our oldest son and a couple of loons.
As the day wore into evening, the wind died to nothing and the water became still as glass. The deep Minnesota woods surrounded us on three sides, trees every shade of green … and surprisingly even a few that were sporting a tinge of yellow and red already in late July.
Periodically, the stillness was broken by a fish jumping in the distance, and then you’d see the beautiful glass ripple out in concentric circles. Just spellbinding!
Joining in the divine choir were the mated loons, whose joyful cries echoed off the water and reverberated around the entire lake. … If you’re a true Minnesotan, is there a more heavenly sound than the loon call!
Then there was the humid, dank smell of the lake that filled the air around us. … Just how do you describe that lake smell anyway? … Regardless of how, it was a powerful reminder of the water teeming with life all around us!
No matter where you looked, nature’s sights, sounds, smells and sensuous feels swallowed us up. It was ecstasy! It's been a long while since I was so at peace. And to get to experience it all with Garrett just made my heart explode!
If the family that night would have had to depend on our angling skills to eat, we’d all have gone hungry. We only fileted three worth keeping, an excellent northern caught by Garrett, and a worthwhile rock bass and sunny that I reeled in. But none of that mattered. It would have been a day I’ll forever remember even if we came home skunked.
Just for the record: I too find myself close to God out in nature. So, if that is where you find your peace, where your faith is buoyed, where you hear God speaking to you, then I can get behind it. No need to feel ashamed around me if that feels like church to you!
After all, doesn’t the Bible even begin with God’s creation of the earth? … So, why wouldn’t we feel closer to the divine in nature?
But … it just might help us pastors’ egos a bit, if you came to worship with us once in a while too!
Devlyn Brooks is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and serves Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. He also works for Forum Communications Co. He can be reached at devlynbrooks@gmail.com for comments and story ideas.
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