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Page 177
8
The Gift of Nature
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The hymn"Take Thou a Lesson from the Tree" is worth laying to one's heart. The tree bears the heat of the sun and yet provides cool shade to us. What do we do?
M
AHATMA GANDHI
Look at a weeping willow and watch its gentle leaves brush against the earth. Smell the fragrance of a rose, frangipani, holy basil, or rosemary. Draw in the odor of the earth after a rainfall, or even while you water your indoor plants. Walk through a grove and hear the crunch of leaves under your feet and enjoy the sweet smell of pine. Stare into the darkness at that perfect time when you experience the joy of daybreak with its inspiring burst of color. Most of us pause to absorb these moments and even find ourselves thinking about the amazing force that created all this wonder. Some of us think of these moments as "communing with nature."

 
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