This I Seek

Cottontail Rabbit, Highline Canal, LIttleton CO

To gaze on the LORD’s beauty,

to visit his temple.

For God will hide me in his shelter

in time of trouble,

He will conceal me in the cover of his tent;

and set me high upon a rock.

~ Ps 27:4-5 (continued)

Like this Cottontail Rabbit who is ‘praying’ under the shelter of his rock cave, let us ask Jesus to help us grow closer to him in prayer, especially during this time of waiting for Easter. As the disciples of Jesus did for three years, talk to the Lord personally as his friend. Tell the Lord your troubles, open your heart to Him who saves. Ask the Lord to encircle you in the shelter of his arms; to let you rest in his house. Finally, listen with a contrite heart to the God who spoke us into existence.

#anaturewalkwithGod #ThisIseek

Dazzling White

Tenmile Range as seen from Boreas Pass trail, Colorado, USA

Good teachers give their students a vision of the goal, this keeps their student’s eyes on the prize as they do the hard work needed for achievement of the mission.

Jesus, in the transfiguration, gave Peter, James and John a glimpse of the glory of heaven. However, just prior to the transfiguration Jesus instructs his disciples of the hard work they must do to achieve the goal, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”(Mark 8:34) The Father then, during the transfiguration, gives the disciples good advice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” (Mark 9:7)

What glimpses of God’s glory have you had that assist you in taking up your cross and following Jesus?

#anaturewalkwithGod #DazzlingWhite

Children of Light

Green Basilisk Lizard, Muelle San Carlos, Costa Rica

for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth ~ Ephesians 5:9

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #ChildrenofLight

Deserted Places

Canyons near Pueblo West, Colorado, USA

Jesus often went to mountains, deserts and gardens to be alone and pray. Jesus desired a time alone between just him and his Father. Jesus often prayed at length. Before he selected his 12 apostles he prayed for the entire night (see Luke 6:12-13). After the multiplication of the loaves and before he walked on the water and calmed the sea; Jesus prayed from evening until a few hours before day break (see Matthew 14: 22-25).

If Jesus were to walk the earth today, in the time of TV, internet, and all sorts of media and entertainment diversions, where would he go to pray? Where do you go to pray?

Let us spend time each day away from the noise of the modern world and be at peace with God and listen for his light, quiet voice (see 1 Kings 19: 11-13).

Peace be with you!

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #DesertedPlaces

As One

Canadian Goose, Highline Canal, Littleton CO.

“We need a movement of people who know we need each other, who have a sense of responsibility to others and to the world. We need to proclaim that being kind, having faith, and working for the common good are great life goals that need courage and vigor.”

(Pope Francis, Let Us Dream: A Path To A Better Future)

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #AsOne

Lifted up by Love

Bald Eagle, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, USA

Some might say it is the strangest of Christian concepts; that love is stronger than hate, that charity can overcome selfishness, that turning the other cheek will conquer evil (Mt 5:39), that loving our enemy is a requirement to living the Christian life (Mt 5:44).

“For God so loved the world” (John 3:16) that he gave himself to be crucified on a cross, not only to save us, but to show us “The Way”. God, being God, could have chosen a different way, but instead choose to show us how to love completely, a giving of one’s self for another.

The trajectory of each Christian’s life, and the Christian community as a whole, should be one of conquering hate with love.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

Let us lift each other up by acts of charity done through Love.

St. John Paul II said, “Peace is the outcome of a long and demanding battle which is only won when evil is defeated by good.”

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #LiftedUpByLove

The Way

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

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

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #KingofKings

Prepare

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

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

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

Happy Thanksgiving!

Shelter of His Wings

Black-bellied Whistling duck and chicks, Galveston, TX

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #ShelterofHisWings

Trust

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

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

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

Dew Drops from Heaven

Cross Orb-weaver Spider in web, Chehalis Western Trail, Olympia, Washington, USA

Inner Self

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

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #InnerSelf

For the Glory of God

Western Sandpiper, Nisqually National Wildlife Reserve, Washington, USA

#anaturewalk #WalkwithGod #FortheGloryofGod