Happy Spring!

March 20 officially marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, with celebrations held around the world to usher in this season of longer days, warmer weather, and nature in full bloom. 

As we celebrate springtime, let’s remember True Parents’ teachings to “love nature as your parent.” True Parents shared how God created the natural world for humanity’s enjoyment, and that we, as stewards of the earth, are tasked with the responsibility of preserving the beauty and well-being of the environment.

Below is an excerpt from True Father’s 1979 speech, “Nature is Our First Parent,” in which he implores us to respect and love nature, as well as recognize the sacred interconnectedness of human beings and the natural world.

Speech Excerpt:

Each man is a microcosm of the universe. Your body is made of all the elements of the world. Nature supplied the entire ingredients that make your body, which means that the universe made you by giving itself. If nature demanded that you repay everything that nature loaned you, would there be anything left of you? You can feel that the universe gave you birth and made you.

Therefore, nature is your first parent. Do you feel good that you are a microcosm of the universe? All the universal formats or formulas can be found in you. You could accurately say that you are a small walking universe that can move, whereas the cosmic universe is stationary. Since you are able to move and act, then you can govern the universe. The universe would want you to exercise dominion over it, so your first duty would be to love nature. Then, wherever you are, you can love the creation and appreciate it.

Since you feel such an urge to love the grass, trees, and flowers, the birds and running water, how can you not love your fellow man? When you lie on the beach, you can feel that you are lying in the bosom of your parent, or that when leaning against a tree you are leaning against your own brother. Would nature protest you for doing that? Or, would it sense that you truly love and appreciate it? All things exist for you. When you observe it, you can take pleasure in them for that reason. As a man, you are the only begotten son of the universe, and as a woman you are the only begotten daughter of the universe. Then how much love would be possible between the two?

You have your own physical parents, but ultimately you have one most important parent who created you — God. Your parents were the instruments that God used to create you. The journey in search of the True Parent begins by loving nature, which is the first parent, then loving your physical parents, and then to the ultimate parent, God, who is our creator. God is the ultimate destination, our eternal Parent... 

The moment of death, which everyone now fears, is actually the moment of fulfillment. If you live your life in the right way here on earth, then your life leads ultimately to the one common Parent. Then the moment of death actually liberates you to live with that parent for eternity. He is the True Parent to us all, who has true love with no end. Life with God is what we call the Kingdom of Heaven in heaven.

You can learn more about the Spring Equinox and ways to celebrate the season here.