All things bright and beautiful - All creatures great and small - All things wise and wonderful - The Lord God made them all. Throughout church history Christians have met with their Creator through his "second book" - the Creation itself.

Whether you've caught a glimpse of God in the peaceful quiet of a hemlock grove, the exhilarating scent of a rose in bloom, or the satisfied exhaustion produced by hard hours of tending the earth, you will find in this issue companions who share your joy.

From the monks and mystics who found in nature divine inspiration for moving poetry and art to the hermits and activists who felt the call to live in harmony with the same, you'll meet a variety of inspiring saints. So head outside to your favourite reading spot to enjoy this uniquely beautiful issue of Christian History magazine.