Mental Health Awareness Week is approaching, running from 12-18 October. This year, the theme is “Belonging Matters”. I believe one place to find belonging is in God’s creation. Time spent out in the bush, on the water or up a mountain is not only good for our mental and physical wellbeing, but it draws us closer to the One who created it all.
I wanted to investigate this idea and see how it resonates with people in our diocese, so I spoke to three men who find peace and refreshing in the outdoors. They have found belonging in creation – a place to connect with God, themselves and others.
Steve Burton from Wakefield & Districts Parish recharges on the open sea in his boat with the family and a cup of tea. He said he was “hooked” on it from an early age.
When I asked him how fishing supports his mental health, he answered:
As a small business operator it allows me to disconnect from the work place which is quite demanding at times and can be stressful. There is a saying that goes, “Even an unsuccessful day fishing is better than one in the office”! If I catch fish, it is great, and if not, I have still had relaxation. There is no specific agenda out on the sea.
Steve has seen whales and dolphins at sea, and enjoys catching the odd fish he’s never seen before.
He described a day over the bar at Greymouth with his son and friends, who took turns fighting for five hours to land a 150-kilogram blue fin tuna. That patient waiting for a bite, perseverance keeping the fish on the rod and the challenge of getting it onboard – it shows great teamwork and resilience, rewarded by joint success.
Out on the water, Steve and his company have the time for a yarn. They can talk freely, ask deep questions and give frank answers. This is all a great help to mental and social wellbeing. Sometimes Steve and his family will also take time to pray while they wait for a fish to bite.
We give thanks for the privilege of being able to have a boat and experience the tranquillity of the sea. A lot of what we do in life is done in a hurry with tight timelines and in the busyness of life God can sometimes take a back seat. Fishing helps me to refocus on my spiritual walk with God.
Philip England is an elder care worker from Granity in the Buller Parish. He looks forward each September to the start of whitebaiting season.
Whitebaiting supports his mental health by providing nutritional organic food and a varied exercise programme, sunlight, fresh air, rest and recreation and time with God in his awesome creation. For Philip, whitebaiting meets the “NEWSTART” fundamental healthy living principles. NEWSTART stands for:
He is often left awestruck by the beauty of God’s creation when he goes out. He describes the surrounds:
The river winds out of national parks. The native bush backdrop is breathtaking with views to the snow-capped mountain ranges. Sometimes in the still of pre-dawn, the misted valley tops ring with the collective susurration of tree frogs calling to each other en masse.
Rev Capt Richard Dyer from Blenheim Parish is a tramper who says he has probably walked over 1,500 kilometres in 30 years, having slept in all 26 huts in Mount Richmond Forest Park.
He described the need to get out and about as follows: “I get cabin fever in town. I have also journeyed with depression – the mountains give me room to breathe and to still myself.” Richard may take a devotional book because tramping is a retreat and time spent with God. At other times a kindle and historic novels fill the quiet spaces in the huts.
He told me about one memory he has of lying in the Wairoa Gorge after falling some 50 metres, waiting for help.
There was no question of “Why me?” Rather, “Why not me?” I have great holes in my timing of that day, but when I was awake, I was most aware of God’s abiding presence and help in my time of need.
After his rescue, Richard spent a week in the hospital, followed by months of recovery. And yet: “I have no fear of getting out and walking the hills again. God is good and so is [my wife] Kaye for letting me keep going out into my preferred world.”
I have long known that good exercise is helpful in maintaining one’s mental health and if I don’t get the exercise, I feel like my oil has sunk to the bottom of my sump. Time to get out again.
There is something very uncomplicated about the backcountry. It’s honest and beautiful. I believe we don’t see the real New Zealand until we get off the roads and head into the hills. I generally find that the tramping community is honest. We leave our ruts in town and have the essentials to survive. Conversations can go deep and at times good questions are wrestled with.
As I talked to these three men, I recognised we may not all be able to do all the activities we once did. But we can all do the small things: take a walk and see the creation that is close to home, talk to friends and family, make the time and space to slow down.
We might want to check in on ourselves using the NEWSTART acronym, like Philip. Or we can use the wellbeing model Te Whare Tapa Wha to see how we are building our house of wellbeing. We strengthen our walls in different ways – good nutrition and exercise fortifies Taha Tinana (physical wellbeing). Alone time, books or puzzles and good memories strengthen Taha Hinengaro (mental and emotional wellbeing). Enjoying the God who created us and meditating on his word builds up Taha Wairau (spiritual wellbeing). Spending time with others and serving them by being a good listener – or letting them be the listener – supports Taha Whānau (social wellbeing).
As we consider that our New Zealand backyard is God’s yard, let’s enjoy the pleasure of using it to collect food and find a place to meet our Creator and recharge our batteries. Like Richard, you might burst into song:
In the days I used to climb, at the summit I would burst into song from Handel’s Messiah, “And the glory, the glory of the Lord, shall be revealed…” I think that says everything.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
Mental Health Awareness Week is approaching, running from 12-18 October. This year, the theme is “Belonging Matters”. I believe one place to find belonging is in God’s creation. Time spent out in the bush, on the water or up a mountain is not only good for our mental and physical wellbeing, but it draws us closer to the One who created it all.
I wanted to investigate this idea and see how it resonates with people in our diocese, so I spoke to three men who find peace and refreshing in the outdoors. They have found belonging in creation – a place to connect with God, themselves and others.
Steve Burton from Wakefield & Districts Parish recharges on the open sea in his boat with the family and a cup of tea. He said he was “hooked” on it from an early age.
When I asked him how fishing supports his mental health, he answered:
As a small business operator it allows me to disconnect from the work place which is quite demanding at times and can be stressful. There is a saying that goes, “Even an unsuccessful day fishing is better than one in the office”! If I catch fish, it is great, and if not, I have still had relaxation. There is no specific agenda out on the sea.
Steve has seen whales and dolphins at sea, and enjoys catching the odd fish he’s never seen before.
He described a day over the bar at Greymouth with his son and friends, who took turns fighting for five hours to land a 150-kilogram blue fin tuna. That patient waiting for a bite, perseverance keeping the fish on the rod and the challenge of getting it onboard – it shows great teamwork and resilience, rewarded by joint success.
Out on the water, Steve and his company have the time for a yarn. They can talk freely, ask deep questions and give frank answers. This is all a great help to mental and social wellbeing. Sometimes Steve and his family will also take time to pray while they wait for a fish to bite.
We give thanks for the privilege of being able to have a boat and experience the tranquillity of the sea. A lot of what we do in life is done in a hurry with tight timelines and in the busyness of life God can sometimes take a back seat. Fishing helps me to refocus on my spiritual walk with God.
Philip England is an elder care worker from Granity in the Buller Parish. He looks forward each September to the start of whitebaiting season.
Whitebaiting supports his mental health by providing nutritional organic food and a varied exercise programme, sunlight, fresh air, rest and recreation and time with God in his awesome creation. For Philip, whitebaiting meets the “NEWSTART” fundamental healthy living principles. NEWSTART stands for:
He is often left awestruck by the beauty of God’s creation when he goes out. He describes the surrounds:
The river winds out of national parks. The native bush backdrop is breathtaking with views to the snow-capped mountain ranges. Sometimes in the still of pre-dawn, the misted valley tops ring with the collective susurration of tree frogs calling to each other en masse.
Rev Capt Richard Dyer from Blenheim Parish is a tramper who says he has probably walked over 1,500 kilometres in 30 years, having slept in all 26 huts in Mount Richmond Forest Park.
He described the need to get out and about as follows: “I get cabin fever in town. I have also journeyed with depression – the mountains give me room to breathe and to still myself.” Richard may take a devotional book because tramping is a retreat and time spent with God. At other times a kindle and historic novels fill the quiet spaces in the huts.
He told me about one memory he has of lying in the Wairoa Gorge after falling some 50 metres, waiting for help.
There was no question of “Why me?” Rather, “Why not me?” I have great holes in my timing of that day, but when I was awake, I was most aware of God’s abiding presence and help in my time of need.
After his rescue, Richard spent a week in the hospital, followed by months of recovery. And yet: “I have no fear of getting out and walking the hills again. God is good and so is [my wife] Kaye for letting me keep going out into my preferred world.”
I have long known that good exercise is helpful in maintaining one’s mental health and if I don’t get the exercise, I feel like my oil has sunk to the bottom of my sump. Time to get out again.
There is something very uncomplicated about the backcountry. It’s honest and beautiful. I believe we don’t see the real New Zealand until we get off the roads and head into the hills. I generally find that the tramping community is honest. We leave our ruts in town and have the essentials to survive. Conversations can go deep and at times good questions are wrestled with.
As I talked to these three men, I recognised we may not all be able to do all the activities we once did. But we can all do the small things: take a walk and see the creation that is close to home, talk to friends and family, make the time and space to slow down.
We might want to check in on ourselves using the NEWSTART acronym, like Philip. Or we can use the wellbeing model Te Whare Tapa Wha to see how we are building our house of wellbeing. We strengthen our walls in different ways – good nutrition and exercise fortifies Taha Tinana (physical wellbeing). Alone time, books or puzzles and good memories strengthen Taha Hinengaro (mental and emotional wellbeing). Enjoying the God who created us and meditating on his word builds up Taha Wairau (spiritual wellbeing). Spending time with others and serving them by being a good listener – or letting them be the listener – supports Taha Whānau (social wellbeing).
As we consider that our New Zealand backyard is God’s yard, let’s enjoy the pleasure of using it to collect food and find a place to meet our Creator and recharge our batteries. Like Richard, you might burst into song:
In the days I used to climb, at the summit I would burst into song from Handel’s Messiah, “And the glory, the glory of the Lord, shall be revealed…” I think that says everything.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
