The darkest disasters in both Mother Nature and human nature have occurred since the dawn of time, and now it seems that the "natural disaster of the century" occurs almost every year. Thankfully, few of us will ever face a tragedy that strikes with the strength and speed of a tornado or tsunami or with the ferocity of a flood or forest fire. Yet most of us do indeed confront crises, real or imaginary, that can change the course of our lives in a heartbeat. This inspiring book presents the author's spirit of resilience throughout a lifetime of challenges and triumphs from both a professional and personal perspective--from an orphanage in Canada to a scholarship in the USA; from her adoptive parents deaths from cancer when she was 21 to her own experience as a cancer survivor; from arriving in Australia jobless to joining IBM and being named Australian Executive Woman of the Year and Keynote Speaker of the Year and honored to carry the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics. During waves of change or winds of woe, when our clarity of thinking vanishes in a mist of tears, lessons from a wondrous array of natural resources can help us clear the mental fog and better cope with the challenges. The Gift of Nature applies the timeless wisdom of Mother Nature to human nature, offering readers strength through nature photographs and inspirational quotes from an author who has bounced back from setbacks time and time again.

In this inspiring manifesto, an internationally renowned ecologist makes a clear case for why protecting nature is our best health insurance, and why it makes economic sense.

Will the ecological crises of our time be resolved using the same form of thought that has brought them about? Are technological prowess and political power the proper tools to address them? Is there not a deeper connection between our ecological crises and our human, social, political, economic, and ethical crises? This book argues that the popular approaches to ecological, bioethical, and other human crises are not working because they fail to examine the problem in its full depth. This depth escapes us because we have abandoned true metaphysical reflection on the whole and substituted it unknowingly for a series of inadequate alternatives. Both the technocratic paradigm that views all of nature mechanistically and its antagonists—the eco-philosophies that argue for the realities of intrinsic value, relationality, and beauty—carry partial truths but are insufficient. This book presents a more radical alternative, rooted in the classical tradition yet fresh and vibrant. The metaphysics of gift, based in the giftedness of existence shared by all, offers a deeper and more satisfying vision of all things that can transform our relationship with nature and touches every aspect of human life: social, political, economic, technical, and ethical.

Heeding technology's cry to “get connected” can result in overloaded circuits of the mind. Frenetic connections cause frazzled lives. Unwrapping Wonder: Finding Hope in the Gift of Nature will restore the reader's soul as they step outside to cultivate a connection with creation and, in the process, deepen their relationship with the Creator.This delightful mix of natural history, human story and God's glory found in everyday nature is based on Job's words: “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you ... or let the fish of the sea inform you.” Each chapter focuses on one natural object such as the bee, the barnacle, the tiniest seed.By peering within the ordinary, we can learn to see details which reveal extraordinary wonder. As we unwrap the gift, we discover more of nature, God, and ourselves, one wonder at a time.Unwrapping Wonder is for active men and women and families who enjoy the outdoors or reading about nature, and for those needing hope in a hectic world. Each chapter offers: --The Wonder Introduced: through anecdote, natural history, or life story.--The Wonder Unwrapped: zooming in to see hidden details, and explained in everyday terms.--The Wonder Applied: Practical, spiritual lessons for daily living.--Promise of Hope: Relevant Scripture to inspire hope.--“Wondercise”: A hands-on nature activity designed to awaken heart, mind, and soul to the wonder of creation and give praise to the Creator.

Children experience the wonders of Mother Earth after planting a single seed that replenishes the world with a bounty of trees. They create a precious memory together, leading to a desire to make the world a more beautiful place. Written in tender prose, this is a story about being grateful for nature and its cycle of seasons