During September, we are using Rev. Tony Portell’s book, "No Longer Stuck" to understand the way science and Scripture can help us find healing for our emotions and minds. In the book, Tony focuses on a Hebrew word, hesed, which is a difficult Hebrew word to understand because it has 169 different ways to translate it. It is a word that talks about the love of God which is challenging to define for human understanding. The NRSV translates God’s love in Exodus 34:6-7 as steadfast love. “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (hesed) and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love (hesed) for the thousandth generation…”
It can be hard to understand the unconditional love that God has for humankind, but I think I experienced it with new understanding this week. On Monday I flew up to Michigan and stayed with my sisters and father in Atlanta, Michigan. My baby sister has a cabin just south of Mackinaw Island. While up there I was able to enjoy some time on the lake in a kayak. It was during that time my brain was experiencing God’s love and I felt His healing touch.
Let me explain. Scientists theorize that the “soft fascination” evoked by natural scenes engages what’s known as the brain’s “default mode network.” When this network is activated, we enter a loose associative state in which we’re not focused on any one particular task but are receptive to unexpected connections and insights. In nature, few decisions and choices are demanded of us, granting our minds the freedom to follow our thoughts wherever they lead. Soft fascination is a way of calming and soothing ourselves and restoring our stressed-out brains by spending time in nature and allowing our focus to be gently engaged by the natural world around us.
Another way to explain this is to say I drew closer to God by the beauty of His earth, and I felt loved by Him for it. Of course, you don’t have to go a long way away to experience soft fascination. In can occur on a walk in your neighborhood, if you let it. Soft fascination will increase the release of serotonin in your brain, and you will be flooded with the peace of God, just as He intended.
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