Shepherd Farm

For many of us, the beauty of nature, being present with nature, walking in the woods, following a stream, spending quiet time with a horse, can all be so peaceful.  At these times, we feel connected to something fundamental and lasting, yet changing and growing.  I think this is why we gravitate to nature and images of nature which can, even in small doses, relieve the stress and noise of life – quickly and profoundly.

Just yesterday, I was struck by how people are drawn to nature and the hope that it offers.  I was headed up to class in East Baltimore where bricks, asphalt and concrete make up the landscape.   It is a harsh visual environment.   But what I saw there made me smile.  In one particular neighborhood, the entire cement wall behind a tightly packed set of row houses was painted in bright beautiful hues to depict a mural of nature.  There were rich tall pine trees, breathtaking mountains, and soft wild flowers.  A few blocks up the road on the same street, there were two more brick walls painted with the image of the soft blue sky and fluffy white clouds.  How beautiful.  How hopeful.

Once you have seen and internalized the true beauty of nature, images painted on the side of a concrete building or images recalled from the storehouse of your memory can stimulate many of the same feelings of peace and joy as that first spring walk in the woods, following that gentle stream.