Pilgrimage in Nature

Pilgrimages are physical and spiritual journeys to sacred places and have existed since the creation of humanity. In Genesis, chapter 12, we hear Abram answering the mandate from God to make a journey to a new land. Throughout the Old Testament the prophets called upon God’s chosen people to make both  physical and spiritual journeys. Saints and popes have encouraged pilgrimages for an encounter with the Divine, and many people today still walk these paths.
 
In our daily life we may sometimes feel ourselves a bit down because we focus on the past, or anxious because we look too much into the future. We overlook that peace that is found in being in the present & now with our God. It is St. Hildegard of Bingen, recognized as Doctor of the Church, and a holy defender of nature, who encourages us to open our hearts and seek our God in the tapestry of His divine creation, that we are all part of. A pilgrimage into nature can provide us an opportunity for a personal encounter with God.
 
As we begin this pilgrimage, we are to quiet ourselves and hear God calling us to be with him. We do this by separating ourselves from our daily routines as we journey into nature, opening ourselves to contemplate God's presence as we encounter God’s creation. Then we can respond to God’s call with gratitude and gratefulness. Our souls yearn to connect with the Divine and we long to get   closer to God. A pilgrimage into nature is a special way for us to encounter God in creation. 

 “We cannot live in a world that is not our own, in a world interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not a home. Part of the terror is to take back our own listening, to use our own voice, to see our own light.” St. Hildegard of Bingen

 
On behalf of the committee, many blessings to you as you  begin this Pilgrimage into Nature,      
Deacon Kevin Woodvine
 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  When you arrive take a minute or two to bring your attention to your intention of this particular  journey into creation. Take a few breaths as you prepare yourself to be open to see and experience creation. When you are ready, begin by opening in prayer, either by praying the prayer below,  a prayer of your own choosing, or the prayer found on the back page.

Opening prayer
All seasons give praise to the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth.  We praise you, Lord, as master of all seasons and times.  We give You thanks for the gift of creation and the    fullness of life. We ask You to open our hearts and minds to see Your glory that abounds in nature, each other, and in ourself.  We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen

Begin your journey into creation
This should be a time of quiet observing and attentiveness of creation by using our God   given senses. As you walk, try to notice as many positive things around you as you can. These can be sights, sounds, or smells.  For example: the breathtaking height of a tree, the sounds of birds or other animals, the dance of sunshine off a puddle or a bayou, the smell of grass or flowers, or the way other people interact with each other and nature.
As you notice each of these positive things, acknowledge each one in your mind—don’t just let them slip past you. Pause for a moment as you hear or see each thing, take it in, make sure it registers with you. Then try to identify what it is about that thing that makes it     pleasurable to you.  Why do you find enjoyment in what you are observing?       
 
Time for reflection
After your journey into creation, either while you are still in the park, or comfortably back home, reflect on your time.  These questions are intended to help in your reflection. Journaling is encouraged. You may even feel moved to express your experience in a  photograph, a painting, or poetry.  

      Questions for reflection:
· What moment was enjoyable to you? Recall that moment. What did you observe? Which senses were prominently used? (sight, smell, touch, hear, taste)
· What were the strongest thoughts and feelings that you experienced?
· Did you see or experience something that you were not expecting?
· Did this particular journey into creation draw you closer to God? If so, how?

Closing prayer
After you had a chance to reflect upon your experience, say a prayer of gratitude from your heart to God for providing this opportunity to see and experience creation.  A simple thank you can be a prayer in itself. To quote the 14th century Dominican theologian Meister Eckhart: “If the only prayer you say in your entire life is thank you that would be enough.”