The High Point of the Day (literally)
A Doe Visible in the Distance
(and Her Fawn, Not So Visible)
The Fawn (a lot more visible!)
A Surprise Explosion of Daisies
Not to be Confused with the Bald Eagle
or the Great Blue Heron, but Beautiful
in the Eyes of God!
Coming up: the story behind the walking stick; how people are reacting to the Pilgrimage; and is it true that Lincoln City is 12 miles long?
Fr. Mark: Your observations on listening to nature reminded me of this exhortation from Fr. Zosima in Dostoevsky's novel Brothers Karamazov: “Brothers, have no fear of men’s sin. Love a man even in his sin for that is the semblance of Divine Love and is the highest love on earth. Love all God’s creation, the whole and every grain of sand in it. Love every leaf, every ray of God’s light. Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love. Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled. Do not trouble it, don’t harass them, don’t deprive them of their happiness, don’t work against God’s intent. Man, do not pride yourself on superiority to the animals; they are without sin, and you, with your greatness, defile the earth by your appearance on it, and leave the traces of your foulness after you—-alas, it is true of almost every one of us! . . . [A]ll is like an ocean, all is flowing and blending; a touch in one place sets up movement at the other end of the earth. It may seem senseless to beg forgiveness of the birds, but birds would be happier at your side--a little happier, anyway--and children and all animals, if you yourself were nobler than you are now. It's all like an ocean, I tell you. Then you would pray to the birds too, consumed by an all-embracing love, in a sort of transport, and pray that they too will forgive you your sin. Treasure this ecstasy, however senseless it may seem to men.” (Book 6, Chapter 3, Garnett translation). Happy journeying! John Givens
ReplyDeleteFr. Mark,
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how excited I am to have found your blog (thanks Myrna :) via facebook. I have the same fond memories of the Oregon coast
- My folks had the cabin in Yachats (hebrew from the seder meal for breaking the bread - another Emmaus reference). the cabin was once owned by Msgr. Murnane - One of the Pastors of St. Mary years ago.
- My Mom actually died in a Newport hospital just after having watched the ocean sunset with my Dad (Bob Lyford) through the hospital room window.
- also my good friend michael John Poirier and I traveled once (ia greyhound) from Ukiah to Seattle and back, having only bought one ticket from ukiah to Crescent City.... a faith trip that he is still soing now with his own family www.prayerbreaks.org
- My wife and I - along with three of our kids are on a pilgrimage right now as well: between jobs /houses /etc. (but not between callings: to bring healing to marriages and families).
I will be watching and praying with you ... and we will be praying the pilgrim prayer every day .. thanks!
Chris Lyford