Posts

A New Song

Hutton’s Vireo, Woodward Bay Conservation Area, WA USA

Light in the Darkness

Good Friday Prayer: Lord, give us the eyes of faith to see your love even in the darkness. Amen

The Valley

Jesus walked through the valley for us 2000 years ago, and he accompanies us as we walk through the valley today.

Light and Truth

Mt. Baker and New Dungeness Light House as seen from Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, Sequim, WA USA

“he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” ~ Luke 15:20

Let us never grow weary of returning to the arms of our heavenly father.

Set Things Right

Roseate Spoonbill, High Island Nature Preserve, Texas USA

Jesus said,

“love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father.” ~ Matthew 5:44-45

“So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” ~ Matthew 5:48

Jesus asks much of his disciples but, through the power of the Holy Spirit that burns within the Christian to change the heart, we can accomplish great things.

Live as One

Short-billed Dowitchers, Pacific Coast, WA USA

The greatest act of solidarity was God becoming man, Jesus Christ. As we approach Easter may we live as one through our acts of prayer, fasting and charity. We at A Nature Walk with God are praying for peace in Ukraine and throughout the world.

A Heart to Know You

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

Contemplative prayer is “to find the place in you where you are here and now being created by God.” ~ Thomas Merton

Still Waters

Greater Yellow Legs, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Olympia, WA USA

“God does not rely only on our talents, but also on our redeemed weakness… The Lord does not take away all our weaknesses, but helps us to walk on with our weaknesses, taking us by the hand. He takes our weaknesses by the hand and places himself by our side.” ~ Pope Francis

Twists and Turns

Western Red Cedar growing from a nurse tree stump, Burfoot Park, Boston Harbor, WA USA

Persevere, for the Lord God who humbled himself; to be born in a manger, live as a laborer and die on a cross, knows about the twists and turns of life and will be with you always (see Matthew 28:20).

Brotherhood

Forever New

Great Egret and Chick, High Island, TX USA

So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

Happy New Year!

Glory to God

Bluffs of Pueblo West, Colorado USA with mosaic from Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Lourdes, France

“He was created of a mother whom he created.

He was carried by hands that he formed.

He cried in the manger in wordless infancy. He, the Word, without who all human eloquence is mute.”

St. Augustine, 354 AD – 430 AD

Prepare for the Light

American Robin, Pueblo West, Colorado USA

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

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