Whenever we feel overwhelmed with the stresses of life, it is natural to want to spend some time in nature to help restore a sense of balance in our wellbeing. Being in lovely woodland hearing the birds sing, or watching waves crash on a beach can be wonderfully restorative. Medical research studies show how being in green spaces helps us as human beings lower our blood pressure and heart rate, reduces heart disease, diabetes, stress, anxiety and depression, and encourages an appreciation at whatever age for the natural world around us. The environment in so many ways takes very good care of us as human beings. I believe God created it as such, and knew we would need such spaces to help us restore wellbeing.
But do we return the kindness and look after the environment?… I think the last few decades in particular, with our increasing disconnect from nature and increased consumerist culture, has proved more often than not, we do not. The accumulative damage we as humans have caused the natural world means we are now facing a climate crisis, the scale of which humanity has never had to deal with before.
It can be easy in the light of this news, to feel overwhelmed and not know how or where to begin. But there is hope! There are pockets of renewal all over the planet, here in the UK for example, there is an increasing number of rewilding projects. This Big Green Week (7th -15th June) is all about making small swaps. Could I ask you to make one pledge this Green week, and become an extra ray of light. Whether that’s changing your bank account to a greener bank that isn’t funding fossil fuels, swapping a meal or 2 a week for vegetarian alternatives, or pledging to take the train next time you want to fly, It all adds up to making important changes to reduce our impact on the planet we live on, and intrinsically rely upon, for our own health and wellbeing. Please pray about what swaps YOU could make!
https://www.greatbiggreenweek.com
27th July 2025
20th July 2025
13th July 2025
