I've always regarded nature as the clothing of God.

Hearken, O children of awe and contemplation, to the words of Alan Hovhaness, whose reverence for the natural world speaks across the corridors of time: “I’ve always regarded nature as the clothing of God.” In these words lies a meditation upon the sacredness of the earth, the embodiment of the divine in the living world, and the way in which the majesty of creation unveils the presence of the eternal. Hovhaness invites us to perceive nature not as mere backdrop, but as a veil through which the divine manifests, adorned in rivers, forests, mountains, and skies.

The essence of this reflection is that the natural world is both a mirror and a messenger. By contemplating the beauty of mountains, the sweep of the oceans, the blossoming of flowers, one glimpses the vastness and mystery of the divine. The world is the clothing of God, Hovhaness teaches, because it both reveals and conceals the eternal. To gaze upon the sunlight filtering through leaves, the rhythmic ebb of the tides, or the flight of birds is to witness the subtle movements of divinity expressed in form and motion.

Consider the life of St. Francis of Assisi, who walked among creatures and plants with the deep awareness that every element of creation bore witness to God’s presence. He spoke to birds, revered the rivers, and celebrated the harmony of earth, sky, and living beings. Like Hovhaness, St. Francis perceived that nature was more than mere substance; it was the garment of the sacred, an outward expression of the eternal mystery that humbles and inspires. In this awareness, human perception aligns with the divine rhythm of the cosmos.

The teaching also lies in reverence and stewardship. If nature is indeed the clothing of God, then to harm or disregard it is to affront the sacred. Hovhaness’ insight reminds us that every tree felled, every river polluted, every species driven toward extinction is an act against the visible expression of the divine. The sacred is not confined to temples, texts, or rituals alone; it walks among us in the forests, in the mountains, and in the sky, waiting for those who see, who listen, and who honor.

Even in contemporary times, the principle persists. Witness the grand conservationists, such as John Muir, who dedicated their lives to preserving wilderness and advocating for the protection of nature’s sanctity. Muir perceived the mountains, forests, and rivers as sacred embodiments of a higher order. Hovhaness’ declaration resonates with this ethos: by respecting and preserving the world around us, we honor the clothing of God, acknowledging the presence of the divine in tangible, living forms.

This reflection also calls for humility and awe. The divine, expressed through nature, is beyond human command or comprehension. By attuning oneself to the rhythms of the world—the rise of the sun, the turning of the seasons, the dance of clouds across the sky—one cultivates a sense of smallness within grandeur, a recognition that human life is part of a larger, sacred tapestry. The clothing of God, in its infinite diversity, teaches patience, gratitude, and attentiveness.

O children of perception, take this teaching to heart: look upon the world with eyes that perceive sacredness. Walk in forests, sit by rivers, watch the flight of birds, and hear the whispers of the wind. Recognize that in the soil, the sunlight, and the water flows a message of eternity. To honor nature is to honor God; to cultivate awareness of the divine in creation is to awaken the soul to wonder, humility, and wisdom.

Thus, let the words of Alan Hovhaness resonate through your days: nature is not mere backdrop, but the garment of the sacred, revealing and concealing the presence of God. Treat it with reverence, perceive its divine artistry, and allow its beauty to inspire awe, humility, and devotion. In this contemplation, the soul aligns with the eternal, and life itself becomes a sacred dialogue between human perception and the divine expression of the universe.

If you wish, I can also create a practical guide for experiencing the divine in nature, inspired by Hovhaness’ reflection, with daily practices to cultivate reverence, presence, and awe. Do you want me to do that?