Beside the Still Waters

Don Gordon
Oct 1
3 min read

Many, if not most of us, are familiar with the words of the 23^rd Psalm:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;

For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Though the Psalm is frequently read at funerals, it is equally reassuring for almost any time of stress in our lives – from sleepless nights to conflict at work. From money issues to politics and everything in between. But why are the words so comforting?? Let’s think about the picture that is often portrayed in our stained glass windows – Jesus in his flowing shepherd’s garb, his staff in hand, sweetly smiling over a herd of sheep at his feet. A gently flowing brook is alongside, as well as a beautiful green pasture that you might find in a brochure for Irish tourism! Even though we don’t usually have time to lie down in a green pasture, or even sit for a moment next to a small babbling brook, we should! The health benefits to being out in nature – whether a short walk in a green space in the middle of an urban setting, or a full day hike in the mountains – have been documented by care givers, teachers, medical professionals, pastors, and even people in the pew like you and me. Here’s just a few of the benefits:

Get out in the sun! We all need Vitamin D, which we receive free of charge through sunlight. Vitamin D helps strengthen our bones and boost our immune system while the warmth of the sun improves brain health and mood and may even help you sleep better.
First-hand experience, backed by medical studies, has shown that a walk in nature can improve heart function and lower blood pressure.
When our bodies are under stress, one of our hormones, cortisol, rises substantially. This hormone is one of the “fight or flight” mechanisms built into our bodies and needed for survival. Most of us don’t need this hormone at high levels all day long, however. Constant high levels of cortisol can cause increased joint inflammation, sleep disruption, and high blood pressure. There is good news, though! Just 20 minutes spent strolling through a garden or park can significantly reduce cortisol levels.
Have you noticed that watching puppies or other baby animals at play makes us smile? A popular video on social media right now is of Moo Deng – a baby pygmy hippo from Thailand. Together with millions around the world, we can watch Moo Deng play, take a nap, or resist her keeper’s efforts to get her to go to bed at night. Just smiling at the antics of animals, or watching birds at a feeder, listening to crickets in the evening, or enjoying the sound of rain on a roof, can improve our mood and lower symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Other health benefits of even a little time spent in or with some kind of natural setting includes better attention span and memory, and can even help foster a sense of care and concern for all that God finds valuable, from animals and plants, air and water, to our human brothers and sisters.

The words of Psalm 23 are more than comforting. It’s almost as if God knew that humans needed to be like sheep – take a walk in the sun, lie down in a pasture, and let the shepherd worry about the cares and worries on the other side of the fence. Nature is more than good for our bodies – it’s good for our souls and our connection with the Shepherd! Life’s troubles can seem insurmountable at times. Taking time to be in nature isn’t going to pay any bills or help with the demands of a difficult boss. It will help us think clearer, bring us closer to God and the world God calls “very good,” and may just provide the healing touch of the Creator as we all seek goodness, kindness, and mercy.

Written by Kathy Smith, Chief Operating Officer for C3