Cheon Seong Gyeong Ⅱ - 232. Learning from the Creation
1 Whenever I look at nature, I think deeply about how God created all these things. I have such a sense of awe and wonder when I think about how all the trees and plants were created. We should have a sincere concern for and interest in everything around us. Only after we grasp the details of things can we manage them well. But even through simply appreciating the original value of nature, we will receive a great blessing. Then we will comprehend the fact that nature was made for us. However, people don't know how to look at nature. Nature is truly a mystery. When we come to know nature, we can hear wonderful music even in the sound of the wind. This also helps us greatly in our life of faith. Nature is the closest thing to our own bodies.( 014-101,19640620)
Nature is the first scripture 2 Since human beings were fashioned to be the lords of creation, we need to stand as models in front of all things of creation. From the position of children attending our Heavenly Father, if we find life's lessons in all things of creation and harmonize with them, we will be naturally attuned to the principles of heaven and earth. Animals cooperate with one another to protect their own kind. When a lion approaches a herd of zebras, they form a circle around their young and protect them by kicking with their hind legs. Lions too, even though they may fight over their prey, still share it. Thus we learn from nature how to harmonize with one another and how to live together. That's the way of our life.( 350-264,20010818)
3 I have a love for literature. I truly enjoy reciting poetry. Nature provides a setting in which everyone can feel inspired to recite poetry. People should be proud of their environment before they are proud of themselves. They should say, "The mountains are good, the water is good, the fields are good and my house in these surroundings is good. Therefore I feel good." God created the environment first, and only after that did He create Adam. Everywhere in this environment are subject partners and object partners. There is nothing in nature that does not exist in pairs. Those who can feel, in the midst of nature, that they are model representations of the universe and owners of it, are happy people. I found the Principle in nature.( 394-236,20021012)
4 When I step outside in the morning, I listen to the twittering of the birds. The sounds may seem much the same, but I wonder, "Why is that one chirping like this?" If a bird is chirping alone, I can discern without a doubt that it is singing to call its partner. Often I will hear a bird call from here, and then one responding from over there. They tweet back and forth and then come together and meet. I am so sure when a bird is chirping alone that this will happen. It's always like this. That's why I truly love nature. I am saying you should take an interest in nature. In the course of seeking out the Principle, I took great interest in everything. I would have a question, and then pay attention to a myriad of things, and from among them, the answer would emerge. When that answer aligns with the east, west, south and north, I know it is correct. This is the Principle.( 069-171,19731031)
5 When I go to a beautiful, scenic spot, I look at that place and evaluate it from the viewpoint of heavenly fortune. I try to connect that place to heavenly for-tune. That is why, in the early days of our church, I visited many mountains. When I see a country's mountains, earth and water, I can intuit the character of its people, You can drink the water anywhere in Korea; it is so clean and pure. We must restore nature first. Before we go out overseas, we must deeply love our country's natural environment. The one who knows how to love the land where he was born knows how to love his own body. The one who knows how to love his body knows how to love his own mind. The one who loves his own mind is the one who also loves God.( 014-102,19640620)
6 You should go into the deep and mysterious world of God's heart through the spiritual path, thereby becoming able to appeal to nature in tears. You should say to nature, "Before my circumstances, there are your circumstances. I know you are in this pitiable situation because of me, and for this I am sorry. Please wait a little longer." You need to become a person with this attitude and heart. We travel the path of the spiritual seeker to learn this attitude and heart. In the past, people of prayer described nature as the "first scripture." They affirmed that we should study nature, which was created by God, before we read the Bible.( 020-271,19680707) |