Nature!

March 13th, 2021| Topic: RaMbLeS | 2

After a year of viruses, shut-ins, lockdowns, WFH, etc., many have become TV binge watchers. There’s nothing else to do, they complain, bored and depressed.

Well, there might be a cure for this boredom and depression … on TV! Yup, you can sit on your couch and remote-click away your tedium, languor, and ennui.

Or so claim researchers from University of Exeter and University of Vienna, in “What Is the Best Way of Delivering Virtual Nature for Improving Mood?” published recently in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

Announced a University of Exeter press release:

Watching high quality nature programmes on TV can uplift people’s moods, reduce negative emotions, and help alleviate the kind of boredom associated with being isolated indoors.”

96 “victims” were subjected to boredom by those scientists, putting them through a video that had a people describing their work at an office supply company. After being sufficiently fatigued by this dull tale, those poor folks were shown scenes of an underwater coral reef on TV, in a 360°-video, or with a VR headset.

All three formats helped those 96 participants to minimize their induced boredom.

Commented Nicola Yeo, lead author and grad student at Exeter:

Our results show that simply watching nature on TV can help to lift people’s mood and combat boredom. With people around the world facing limited access to outdoor environments because of COVID-19 quarantines, this study suggests that nature programs might offer an accessible way for populations to benefit from a ‘dose’ of digital nature.”

In fact the VR format not only ameliorated boredom but also induced positive feelings and strengthened the participants’ connections to nature.

Dr. Mathew White, co-author:

We’re particularly excited by the additional benefits immersive experiences of nature might provide. It might also help to encourage a deeper connection to nature in healthy populations, a mechanism which can foster more pro-environmental behaviors and prompt people to protect and preserve nature in the real world.”

Actually, nature can do more, far more.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the work of His hands is announced by the skies.
There is no speech, and there are no words;
their voice is not heard;
[but] through all the earth their sound has gone out,
and to the end of the world their utterances.
Psalm 19:1, 3–4a

Silent nature is, paradoxically, raising its voice about God’s glory, majesty, and providence. Are we listening?

Well, the sun, for one, is!

For the sun, He has placed a tent in them,
and it is like a bridegroom going out of his chamber.
It exults like a warrior to run his course;
its emerging is from [one] end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the [other] ends of them.
Psalm 19:4b–6

Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, century after century, millennium after millennium, this bright star (and every other star) is precisely and perfectly obeying the God who created it (and them).

How about us?

Here’s God’s word to us:

The law of Yahweh is blameless, restoring the soul;
the testimony of Yahweh is reliable, making wise the simple.
The precepts of Yahweh are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of Yahweh is pure, enlightening the eyes.
More desirable than gold, even than much fine gold;
and sweeter than honey, even the flow [from] the honeycomb.
Psalm 19:7–8, 10

The divine word of Scripture. Are we listening? Obeying? The psalmist recommends we do:

Your servant is warned by them;
in keeping them is much reward.
Psalm 19:11

Follow the sun!

SOURCES:
Journal of Environmental Psychology; StudyFinds