The 7 Natural Wonders
I'm definitely no green thumb or environmentalist, but I can appreciate nature. We are blessed to live in a world that is so vast in landscape. There are many different aspects of nature which is unique to certain corners of the world. It's no wonder then, that there is a list of 7 Natural Wonders of the World. CNN have compiled a list of these wonders. These include: Grand Canyon, Great Barrier Reef, Harbour of Rio de Janeiro, Mount Everest, Aurora, Paricutin Volcano and Victoria Falls.
Be Still and Know
In appreciation of the beautiful nature we have around us, people often stop and stare in amazement. They are often "still". I was thinking about this, and was reminded of Psalm 46. Psalm 46 verse 10 says "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth". During the times of reflection in nature, those are times where we can be still and think about creation. These moments also can cause us to stop for a moment and forget about our troubles. It's just a moment to pause.
Star Gazing
A favourite camping hobby many people globally may have is to star gaze at night. The tranquillity and serenity of a quiet night, with countless stars is appealing. People of any faith, age or gender can share this common bond. Furthermore, no matter which country, town or city you are in, you can always find nature. It's part of our world, and always will be.
Travelling In Search of Nature
Perhaps this can be partially accounted to the love of travel people have? For example, people travel to many natural beauties, such as Niagara Falls, each year. To see these landscapes with our own eyes is motivation for us to travel. Advancements in transport over time have given opportunities for us all to travel abroad. We can visit different cultures and nature every day. The growing Australian economy has also made travel appealing. But we don't need to leave the country to be amazed.
Our Nature Beauties
Australia is home to many beautiful natural wonders. We just need to step out of our own backyard. So, next time you are in the solitude of nature, why don't you take a moment in silence? Just be still and appreciate the world (or nature) around us.
Natalie Van Egmond from Brisbane is a journalism graduate.
Natalie Van Egmond's archive of articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/natalie-van-egmond.html