Stopping to Admire a Tree (part 2)

Avot 3:8

The Rambam says that the way to come to love and fear God is by observing nature and trying to understanding its complexity. Elsewhere he says that one does so by learning Torah! Nature and Torah are both vehicles for achieving love and fear of God.

However, nature can also lead to the opposite. It depends on what you're goal is in observing nature. If both nature and Torah serve to bring one closer to God and nature can also lead to the opposite, why is an appreciation of nature necessary?

The Torah doesn't begin with an א since it represents ארור - curse. If so, why do the עשרת הדברות begin with an א?

Delivered at the OU Israel Center, March 18th, 2019, 11 Adar II 5779