Mindful of nature – Isaac the Syrian

Isaac of Nineveh (The Syrian) of the seventh century was someone who who was mindful of nature. His purified heart, purified through contemplation of Scripture made him mindful of nature.

‘And what is a compassionate heart?..It is a heart that burns for all creation, for the birds, for the beasts, for the devils, for every creature. When he thinks about them, when he looks at them, his eyes fill with tears. So strong, so violent is his compassion….that his heart breaks when he sees the pain and the suffering of the humblest creature.’ (quoted in Olivier Clement, ‘The Roots of Christian Mysticism’, p. 227).

Christians who rediscover the ancient paths of contemplation will rediscover the possibility of seeing  ‘every common bush afire with God’ (Gerard Manley Hopkins). They will rediscover a heart that burns for all creation.