One of the things about GoHealth I really appreciate is the way that it brings together wisdom from faith and from science and medicine.
I have lived with poor mental health for many years. I find that I am particularly prone to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety, even with a deepening trust in Christ.
Recently I came across a book called ‘Good Nature’, written by Baroness Kathy Willis CBE, who is Professor of Biodiversity at the University of Oxford, and listened to a brief talk she gave at the RSA last year. She spoke about the growing body of scientific evidence that exposure to nature isn’t just beneficial mentally, but there is a physiological effect that can make a tangible difference to our physical health, and the process of healing. There is empirical evidence that this can be true, even when seeing trees out of a window or even viewed on a computer screen.
Last weekend I awoke with sense of anxiety. As is often the case, it wasn’t related to anything specific, so I decided to drive out to a local forest and take a walk. It gave me the opportunity to take a break from housework and study, and to take in the sights, sounds of tall trees, falling leaves, birds and squirrels going about their day.
I felt enveloped in peace and calm. The bustle of roads and the high street seemed a long way away, confined to a distant rumble that was barely discernible above the birdsong and the wind in the trees. The Japanese term Shinrin-Yoku or ‘Forest Bathing’ seems a very apt way to describe my experience as I ambled through the tree-lined pathway, pausing to breathe deeply and take in the beauty that surrounded me.
After around an hour I reached the edge of the woods. As I looked upon the rolling fields, stretching into the distance, I realised that the anxiety that had accompanied me into the forest had cleared. I was glad to leave it behind me, but as I thought about it while returning home, I realised that I had come away so much richer for my experience.
In nature, God gives us healing grace that is freely available and something we so often forget to receive. Science is beginning to explain how it interacts with our minds and bodies. As we wait, we discover the wonder that connects us back with our Creator.
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