Posts

The Way

Boardwalk, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge with Mt Rainier in background, Washington, USA

Boardwalk, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge with Mt Rainier in background, Washington, USA

“The Way” was the name given to the early Christians.  These early Christians, or followers of Christ, clung tenaciously to following the path of Jesus.  Their sole focus was in living a life of humility and charity by loving neighbor and God and persevering in the path, the way of Jesus, until the end.  This life style is illustrated by the following quotes from Justin Martyr (100 AD – 165 AD).

We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies.  – Justin Martyr

We ourselves were well conversant with war, murder and everything evil, but all of us throughout the whole wide earth have traded in our weapons of war. We have exchanged our swords for plowshares, our spears for farm tools...now we cultivate the fear of God, justice, kindness, faith, and the expectation of the future given us through the Crucified One....The more we are persecuted and martyred, the more do others in ever increasing numbers become believers. - Justin Martyr

We pray for our enemies; we seek to persuade those who hate us without cause to live conformably to the goodly precepts of Christ, that they may become partakers with us of the joyful hope of blessings from God, the Lord of all. - Justin Martyr

 

Justin Martyr was born about 30 miles north of Jerusalem in 100 AD. He started a Christian school in Rome and was martyred along with six of his companions in about 165 AD.

The Gift

Teton Mountains as seen from Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA

Teton Mountains as seen from Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA

All things came to be through him,

and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life,

and this life was the light of the human race;

the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it. ~ John 1:3-5


Happy New Year!


#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #TheGift


King of Kings

Mount Rainier as seen from Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, USA

Mount Rainier as seen from Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, USA

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #KingofKings

Prepare

Chehalis Western trail, Washington, USA with statue of Mary with baby Jesus from All Souls Church, Englewood, CO

Chehalis Western trail, Washington, USA with statue of Mary with baby Jesus from All Souls Church, Englewood, CO

As Christmas approaches let us prepare our hearts for the birth of the child Jesus.


#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #Prepare


Small Things with Great Love

American Kestrel, Nisqually National Wildlife Reserve, Washington, USA

American Kestrel, Nisqually National Wildlife Reserve, Washington, USA

Some of the most powerful things come in small packages. Things like the American Kestrel (sparrow hawk) or the infinite God, who is love itself, becoming a small baby born in a manger. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas this advent season, let us spend a few moments praying and contemplating the small things we can do with the tremendous power of love working through faith. Perhaps a few of the following quotes from St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta might help in your prayer and contemplation on the small things.

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.

I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.

Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.

Good works are links that form a chain of love.

If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.

If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.

Intense love does not measure, it just gives.

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.

Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand.

Love begins by taking care of the closest ones – the ones at home.

I want you to be concerned about your next-door neighbor. Do you know your next-door neighbor?

I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.

We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.

Do ordinary things with extraordinary love.


#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #SmallThings


Help Them

Forest along Mt. Ellinor Trail, Olympia National Forest, Washington, USA

Forest along Mt. Ellinor Trail, Olympia National Forest, Washington, USA

As we prepare for Christmas this advent season let us be aware that many people are carrying a cross much heavier than ours. Let us help them on their journey by uniting our cross with theirs while always remembering Jesus’s words….

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” – Matthew 25: 35-36

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #HelpThem


With Thanksgiving

Eagle Lake viewed from Chehalis Western Trail, Olympia, WA with Mosaic of Our Lady from Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Lourdes, France

Eagle Lake viewed from Chehalis Western Trail, Olympia, WA with Mosaic of Our Lady from Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Lourdes, France

Happy Thanksgiving!

Trust

Millersylvania State Park, Washington, USA

Millersylvania State Park, Washington, USA

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not reply on your own insight.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

~ Proverbs 3: 5-6

Cry to the Lord

Large Drift wood log at rest, Dungenous National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, USA

Large Drift wood log at rest, Dungenous National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, USA

God desires to bring you to the harbor you long for. “Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.” ~ 1 Peter 5:7

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #CrytotheLord


Infinity

Trees seeking the sun, Priest Point Park, Olympia, Washington, USA

Trees seeking the sun, Priest Point Park, Olympia, Washington, USA

Carlos Acutis was a loving and kind teenage boy. He was gifted with computers but was even more gifted with love. The following are a few of his quotes.

To be always united with Jesus, this is my plan of life.

The only thing we have to ask God for, in prayer, is the desire to be holy.

Do not be afraid because with the Incarnation of Jesus, death becomes life, and there’s no need to escape: in eternal life, something extraordinary awaits us.

Sadness is looking at ourselves, happiness is looking towards God.

What does it matter if you can win a thousand battles if you cannot win against your own corrupt passions? It doesn’t matter. The real battle is with ourselves.

Not me, but God.

All people are born as originals but many die as photocopies.

Continuously ask your guardian angel for help. Your guardian angel has to become your best friend.

By standing before the Eucharistic Christ, we become holy.

The more Eucharist we receive, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on earth we will have a foretaste of heaven.

The Virgin Mary is the only woman in my life.

Carlos Acutis died on October 12, 2006 at the age of 15 from leukemia and was beatified on October 10, 2020 by Pope Francis. Blessed Carlos Acutis pray with us.

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #TheInfinite

Inner Self

New tree growing inside stump, Priest Point Park, Olympia, Washington, USA

New tree growing inside stump, Priest Point Park, Olympia, Washington, USA

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #InnerSelf

Light of Grace

Evening sun kissing Maple leaves under forest canopy, Olympia, WA

Evening sun kissing Maple leaves under forest canopy, Olympia, WA

I am amazed whenever I walk through the woods and see kisses of sunlight illuminating the leaves of the forest. It reminds me of God’s grace that surrounds us and comforts us and walks with us, even in the darkness.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ~ John 8:12

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #LightofGrace