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Light

Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “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

Happy Thanksgiving

Autumn Trees, Eagle Lake on Chehalis Western Trail, Olympia, WA

In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. ~ Thessalonians 5:18

As We Are

Great Blue Heron, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Olympia, WA

God is the witness of the inmost self and the sure observer of the heart - Wisdom 1: 6

Small and Ordinary become Great and Powerful

A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” ~ Mark 12: 42-44

The Leaves Radiate His Grace

Oh how I wish to imitate the leaves,

to take in the abundance of God’s grace

and give it back to God and neighbor

in radiant splendor.

Give Him Thanks with Great Humility

Canyon, Pueblo West, CO USA

Few people have more closely followed the teachings of Christ than St. Francis of Assisi. Francis’s love of Jesus was demonstrated by his actions; and to those that knew Francis, his love for his savior was also felt through his serenity and peace. Francis saw the world through the eyes of Jesus. In his famous poem, The Canticle of the Sun, all of creation reflects the Glory of God. Francis praises, loves and adores God for everything, even bodily death. Francis added the stanza on Sister Death as he was about to die.

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessings.
To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no man is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all your creatures; especially Brother Sun, who is the day, and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor, and bears a likeness to You, Most High One.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind, and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather through which You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom You light the night; and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth, who sustains us and governs us and who produces varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love, and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no living man can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin. Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will, for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give Him thanks, and serve Him with great humility. Amen.

Work

He became predominately deaf from a childhood illness, lost his father at age five, was forced to leave school and become a full-time worker in sixth grade, and left home and lived on his own at age 13. He held two to three jobs for most of his life and died at the age of 41 from brain cancer. I am blessed to have called him my father. Reflecting on workers over the past Labor Day holiday I could not help but think of dad.

Dad was a model for the working person. Why you might ask?

Dad worked hard, very, very hard. In order to meet the needs of our family, after working his normal day job, dad took up jobs painting houses, putting in sprinkler systems and landscaping. Often my brother and I would join dad. We worked long, hard hours and dad was a stickler for perfection. Although working hard and doing a job well are very admirable qualities, calling dad the hardest or best worker I have ever met, would not properly reflect who dad was as a worker.

Dad was our baseball coach and football manager. Despite the long tiring days of work, each week mom and dad dedicated an evening to go square dancing. Dad also took the time to develop a unique bond with my sister using their shared love of nature and dogs. If that was not enough, whenever we had a spare moment dad immersed us all in the love of nature by taking us camping, hiking, hunting and fishing.

Dad understood the need for love to be shared. Grandparents, aunts and uncles and family friends all were all invited to join us in large celebrations for the holidays and birthdays.

What motivated dad to work so hard, to give so much, to accomplish the impossible? Love. Dad simply wanted mom and us kids to experience something that he missed as a kid. Love. Dad knew that properly oriented work had only one purpose, one goal, and that was to love.

“Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.” (Jesus from the Sermon on the Plain, Luke 6:38)

Dad loved and was loved, by family and friends. What better life can you have than that?

#anaturewalkwithGod #Worka4LetterWord

Making the Impossible, Possible

Lesser Scaup, Inks Lake State Park, Texas, USA

Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink – Matthew 14:29-30

Peter took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink. If we are to live and love like Jesus we must never take our eyes off him. But in today’s world we have so many distractions, the waves are all around us. How do we keep our eyes on Jesus? I have a few suggestions.

- Get to know Jesus intimately. Read an excerpt from one of the Gospels each day. Imagine walking by Jesus’s side.

- Start and end each day with prayer. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a practice, no matter how busy the day, to spend at least an hour in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

- See Jesus in the many challenges you face. God is in all things. Jesus is there. Listen to him. Let his peace surround you.

But never forget the rest of the story that Jesus is always there for us if we reach out for his aid.

He (Peter) cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. – Matthew 14: 30-32

#anaturewalkwithGod #WalkonWater

He sees all

Crescent Bay as viewed from Stripped Mountain, Salt Creek Recreation Area, WA USA

Lord Jesus,

Standing on this distant shore I know you are watching me from above,

Sometimes the waves of sickness, sorrow and fear crash over me,

One after another they come,

Sometimes I can’t see the purpose in my suffering,

Sometimes I feel all alone,

It is at these times I thank you all the more,

For I know you are with me and looking out for me,

I know that you see all things and are “in all things”(1),

I know that “all things work for good for those that love God”(2),

And I certainly love you,

Although I may not understand or know all your ways until I see you in heaven(3),

You remain my hope and my love,

Please give me the grace to live my life in a way worthy of being called a Christian(4).

_____________________

(1) See Ephesians 4:6 and ACTS 17:28

(2) See Romans 8:28

(3) See 1 Corinthians 13:12

(4) See Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 4:8-9, Ephesians 4: 1-6

#anaturewalkwithGod #HeSeesAll

Brother Sun

Sunset over Strait of Juan de Fuca, Tongue Point, WA USA

“God loves you!”, the most ancient of phrases.

A phrase that comes from the overflowing, extravagant embrace of the one triune God.

A love so extravagant that it overflowed from the infinite, to form the finite.

A Holy Love that was like a mighty wind pouring over the waters.

A Holy Love that echoed like the sound of a big bang, and the universe was born.

The universe was born with the words, “God loves you!”.

#anaturewalkwithGod #BrotherSun #GodLovesYou

Room for Jesus

I look around. It is the Sabbath but this is no ordinary Sabbath. A commotion is in the air, despite little being said. The great healer, the carpenter turned rabbi, is in town and will soon be in the synagogue. He will be teaching. It is said when he teaches he talks directly to a person’s soul. Some have said that he seems to know their hearts and minds better than they themselves do. I look over, the leaders are jockeying for position, taking all the seats of honor, leaving no room for the carpenter. Others in the synagogue do not want the carpenter to sit by them so they bury themselves in the crowd. Perhaps they are afraid of him, or perhaps more accurately, they are afraid of what he might compel them to do – to look inside themselves and change. But I am hopeful. I sit on my empty bench in anticipation of the carpenter’s arrival. I hope that he will sit with me. I hope that I might leave the synagogue, this day, closer to God.

My son took this photo of a fox sitting on a bench. It was as if the fox was anxiously waiting for someone to join him and I thought of this possible synagogue scene from Jesus’s three years of public ministry.

In the bible, Jesus is mentioned as sitting down numerous times and in just about every instance he is sitting down with people to teach them the ways of the Kingdom of God, or to heal them from their infirmities, or to forgive them for their sins. Jesus is with us today. Jesus wants to heal us, and teach us, and forgive us. Jesus is anxiously waiting to sit and be with each of us. In our hearts and minds. Teaching us his ways. We just need to learn from this fox and leave some room for him to “sit” with us.

#anaturewalkwithGod #RoomForJesus

Freedom

Washington State Capital as seen through flowers of Plum tree, Olympia, WA USA

Who was the most-free human being eighty years ago in July of 1941? In July of 1941 Hitler was at his zenith of power. The Nazi’s had concurred most all of Western Europe and now had their sites on Great Britain. No one seemed to be able to stop Hitler and his military machine. With the world’s eyes on the blitzkrieg marching its way across Europe, a very dirty sideshow of Nazi aggression was also underway. Millions of Jews, along with other people that were on the wrong side of Nazi imperialism, were being sent to concentration camps where they would meet their death or be forced to survive years of hard labor. It was in these camps that demonstrations of tremendous freedom took place.

Before continuing the story, one must take a brief look at Adolph Hitler. I think he was perhaps the least free person in the world in July of 1941. “What?” you might say, “He was free to do whatever he wanted!” He was free by most external standards. He was free: to become what he dreamed; to do whatever he wanted throughout most of Europe; to use his massive power and wealth on acquisition of just about anything. Hitler is an extreme example how if a person’s will is not oriented toward service of God and service of neighbor, a person can become slave to his or her improperly oriented passions. For Hitler his passion must have been power. Hitler was a slave to his quest for power which lead to a pitiful and lonely life, a pitiful and lonely death, and death, pain and misery for millions.

In contrast, in the death camps of Nazi Germany extraordinary acts of freedom were taking place. By freedom, I don’t mean freedom in the modern context where freedom is measured by an accounting of the human rights given to a person by society. Although I totally embrace human rights, by freedom I mean the historic Christian perspective where a person is only as free as he aligns his free will to do what is good and just in serving God and man. I know there were many unaccounted acts of the use of free will in the service of goodness and justice taking place in these camps in July of 1941, but I will share with you the one I am most familiar…..

The cry “My wife! My children!” echoed across the prison grounds. Franciszek Gajownicze had been selected as one of ten prisoners to be starved to death. A prisoner had recently escaped the death camp at Auschwitz. The evil routine practiced at the camp was if any one escaped the camp, ten would then be starved to death as a consequence. Gajownicze, a sergeant in the polish army had been captured after the sacking of Poland by the Germans and now had been selected to the cruel death of starvation.

Suddenly a skinny, weathered man stepped forward. His name was Father Maximilian Kolbe. Prior to entering the prison it is estimated that Kolbe and his community helped hide 3,000 Polish refuges of which about 1,500 were Jews. Kolbe also produced a widely read periodical which sharply criticized the Nazi’s. These activities lead to Kolbe’s imprisonment. Kolbe had been beaten and tortured while at the camp by a particularly vicious guard that the prisoners called “Bloody Krott”. Recently Krott had forced Kolbe to carry the heaviest of planks until he collapsed and then beat Kolbe until near death. Despite the beating Kolbe always remained calm and dignified and his eyes always shinned bright, nearly penetrating.

Everyone in the compound stopped and looked at the Kolbe. The Nazi commander spoke up saying, “What does this Polish pig want?” Kolbe looked at the commander with his piercing eyes. “I am a Catholic priest from Poland,” Kolbe said and then pointing at Gajowniczek he added, “I would like to take his place because he has a wife and children.” Gajowniczek was released.

Fr Maximilian Kolbe and the nine other prisoners were put into an underground bunker. Prisoners at the camp were familiar with the cruelty of being starved to death, the pleadings and crying of people as they slowly wasted away was a familiar sound. This time; however, it was different. Rather than hearing crying and pleading the sound of prayers and music and even laughter was heard from the bunker. As the men began fading, the prayers and music became whispers, but in the center of the bunker Kolbe was always kneeling and praying, always encouraging his fellow prisoners, always smiling at the guards that looked down at him.

Maximilian Kolbe was directing all of his free will toward serving first Gajowniczek, then his fellow prisoners in the bunker and, in some remote way, even the guards that looked onto the scene. Kolbe despite being held in a bunker being starved to death, through the exercise of his free-will, was perhaps one of the most-free people in the camp and perhaps the world.

After two weeks without food and water all the prisoners except Kolbe had died. The Germans wanted the scene to be over and put Fr. Maximilian Kolbe to death by deadly injection on August 14, 1941.

Franciszek Gajowniczek was freed by the Allies after spending 5 years, 5 months and 9 days in concentration camps. Gajowniczek died at the age of 93 on March 13, 1995.

During this week when we celebrate our country’s freedom, let us ask perhaps the most important question regarding freedom…..”What things do I serve?”

#anaturewalkwithGod #Freedom

Know where you are headed

Let us journey through the often bumpy and twisting path of life toward heaven, loving God and loving neighbor, while always keeping our eyes on Jesus.

Canyon, Pueblo West, CO

#anaturewalkwithGod #ImperishableInheritance

Love as God Loves

But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?

And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?*

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

~ Matthew 5: 43-48

#anaturewalkwithGod #LoveAsGodLoves

Relationship

Barred Owl, Chehalis Western Trail, Olympia, WA, USA

Psalm 32:8 describes the relationship that a loving God wishes to have with each and every one of us; directing us, guiding us and being with us. A person’s relationship with our Lord seems to vary from person to person and even era to era. In the modern era, often marked by hyper-individualism and self-creation, I think much can be learned from the relationship that a young articulate, yet uneducated, 14th century Christian woman named Catherine had with our Lord. Catherine took time in prayer “to look at herself in the gentle mirror of God”(1). There in that gentle mirror she would “see all the more clearly her own defects because of the purity she sees in him.”(1)

Perhaps the place in the bible where this understanding of seeing oneself clearly in the light of God’s grace is best illustrated is in the last chapter of the Gospel of John. Jesus is meeting with Simon Peter at the Sea of Galilee after the resurrection. In the original Greek version (John 21:15 -16) Jesus twice asks Simon Peter if he “Agape” loves him. Simon Peter replies both times that he “Filo” loves Jesus. In most modern texts only the word love is put in both sentences but understanding the differences in these two words is critical in understanding the text and in understanding Simon Peter’s honesty in the Light of God’s grace. Agape love is an unconditional love, whereas, filo love is a brotherly love. The courageous and exuberant Simon Peter, the leader of the 12 apostles, just a few days earlier denied his friend Jesus and left him to die alone on the cross. This was a demonstration of anything but Agape love. Simon Peter, now in the light of the grace of the risen Lord, looks at the resurrected Jesus and then looks at himself and knows that he does not unconditionally (Agape) love Jesus. Simon Peter was honest with both himself and Jesus. The next step in the conversation (John 21:17) is Jesus coming down to Simon Peter’s level and asking Simon Peter if Simon Peter Filo loves him. Jesus understands Simon Peter’s weakness and is willing to meet him where he is. God always meets us where we are in order to draw us to where we should be. Jesus then lets Simon Peter know that there will be a time in the future when Simon Peter will demonstrate that he unconditionally (Agape) loves Jesus (John 21: 18-19).

Jesus and Simon Peter’s discussion at the Sea of Galilee is an example of the instruction that Catherine of Siena sees as critical in deepening our relationship with God. Simon Peter looked at himself in the gentle mirror of Jesus’s eyes and saw his own defects because of the purity he saw in Jesus. Jesus; however, did not leave Simon Peter alone in his own guilt but gently lead Simon Peter to a deeper type of love.

*****

Regarding St. Catherine of Siena, Catherine was born in 1347 and died in 1380. She lived in an era dominated by men in leadership and governance, which makes her many accomplishments even more remarkable. When Catherine talked, everyone listened.

- The analogy that the Cross of Christ is the bridge between heaven and earth was perhaps first used by Catherine. See the following hyperlink regarding Catherine’s writings on this subject: Christ Is Our Mystical Bridge - Living With Christ

- In addition to her teachings on the spiritual life recorded in her book the “Dialogue” and her many prayers and letters, Catherine had numerous leadership achievements including interceding between various waring Italian states and perhaps most famously for her rather forceful instruction to Pope Gregory to leave his comfortable residence in France and to comeback to Rome to lead the Church. Pope Gregory heeded Catherine’s advice and returned to Rome.

- Catherine was canonized a saint in 1460 and was proclaimed a Doctor in the Catholic Church in 1970.

For more information on the spirituality of Catherin of Siena I suggest reading, “Saint Catherine of Siena, Mystic of Fire, Preacher of Freedom” by Fr. Paul Murray, OP.

1) “Dialogue” no 13, no 48

#anaturewalkwithGod #Relationship

Seeing, Doing and Understanding

Cattail on shore of Cherry Creek reservoir; Cherry Creek State Park; Aurora, CO

St Teresa of Avila once said, “Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are His body. Christ has no body now but yours,”

As a foot or a hand we can only see what a foot or a hand could see; only one perspective; only one moment. Christ’s body as a whole, however, sees everything as a whole, in focus. We must wait, though, until we meet Christ at His throne to see as He sees.

Jesus knows you want to understand the future; knows you want everything to go as you want it to be. He knows you and exactly what you need. There is no need “to worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself” (Mat 6:34).

We can only see part of the picture, so let’s surrender what is hidden from us to God’s will and say, “I don’t know what is going to happen, but He does and it is going to be great.”

Renew the Face of the Earth

Red-winged Black Bird, Eagle Lake on Chehalis Western Trail, Olympia, WA, USA

And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit ~ ACTS 2:2-4

Dear Holy Spirit,

We pray, that you give us the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23) to truly love God and love neighbor as Jesus Christ commanded (see Matthew 22: 34-40 and Luke 10: 25-37) and with this love help us renew the face of the earth.

Amen

#anaturewalkwithGod #ComeHolySpirit

Rejoice in the Lord

Red-breasted Sapsucker, Chehalis Western Trail, Olympia, WA, USA

Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you. ~ Philippians 4:5-9

#anaturewalkwithGod #RejoiceInTheLord

Teach us to Pray

Our Father who art in heaven hallowed by thy name….~ see Matthew 6 and Luke 11

#anaturewalkwithGod #TeachUsToPray

Light Silent Sound

Scenic view of red rocks; Roxborough State Park, Littleton CO

Then the LORD said: Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound. ~ 1 Kings 19:11-12

How many times in our daily life do we look for the God in the big and glamorous things like the wind, earthquake, and fire? Where is God? He is in the smile of a baby; a quiet moment; a friend to talk to; a walk on a sunny day. God is in the quiet noises that bless our lives everyday.

Where have you heard God’s voice today?

#anaturewalkwithGod #HearHisVoice