Places of Enchantment - Meeting God in Landscapes

There is a great and honourable tradition of finding God in landscapes. Many people who have given up on church appreciate the spiritual benefits they gain from climbing a mountain or walking in nature. But how and why do we encounter God in land, forest, river, mountain, desert, garden, sea and sky? This captivating volume takes us from the giant redwoods of the Californian Sierra Nevada to the jagged New York skyline, and from the wilds of the ancient Scottish Highlands to the rolling pastures of English Shropshire. Drawing on material from biblical and church history traditions, as well as on scientific research and contemporary art, Graham Usher seeks to ascertain how experiencing God in the natural world supports the pilgrim's journey and challenges assumptions. Many of the landscapes celebrated appear in the cycle of themes for the Season of Creation in the four weeks leading up to the feast day of St Francis of Assisi on 4 October, and this book may be used as a resource for preachers and study groups during that period. More than anything, the author's desire is to encourage readers to look at the world with fresh eyes - and so be enchanted by the wonder of God all around us.