My husband Al and I recently took a trip to Montana for a friend’s wedding. We made time to explore the bountiful beauty of the town of Big Sky and Yellowstone National Park along with some fly fishing expeditions and plenty of relaxing with friends amidst the backdrop of towering and gorgeous mountains in every direction. We are both native Ohioans (flatlanders) so mountains move our hearts.
All of this was wonderful, but a highlight for me was an early afternoon hike up the mountain by our inn, all alone, with bear spray in hand. Bear sightings are common, and even occasional bear attacks, so I picked bear spray at the front desk of the inn where we were staying to have peace of mind on my hike (and I made sure I knew how to use it.)
It felt amazing to hike up the mountain alone in the silence and in the majesty of nature. This was my prayer time that day so I talked to God and paused to listen as much as I could. The hike was straight up — no switchbacks on this trail — so it was challenging, and due to the altitude difference between Montana and Ohio, and the heat of the day, I had to pause to rest often — that really gave me a chance to take in the magnificence of my surroundings and to praise God for all of it.
I talked to God about having more appreciation for the little things — and to not miss what he wanted me to see on this hike — and in my daily life. The silence on the hike was a welcome respite with gentle interruptions by birds and the the babbling brooks I crossed often.
It felt freeing to carry so little — only water and bear spray — I thought of the disciples who were told to take nothing for the journey, “no extra tunic.” I also thought of Mathew Kelly’s well-known phrase ‘carefree timelessness’ and how blessed I felt to take off into nature with God in this way, without time constraints.
I paused to take in the wild flowers, give thanks that my waterproof boots were truly waterproof as I splashed through the water. I was thankful for the shade of the pines to rest, the amazing views down the mountain (a sweet reward), for the tree that lent me a walking stick and for the variety of wildflowers that painted the landscape..
I’d been listening to Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux on the Hallow app and I was reminded that not every flower in the field can be a rose — how boring that would be — the variety that God creates has a purpose in his divine plan.
St. Therese said, “I understood that every flower created by Him is beautiful, that the brilliance of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not lessen the perfume of the violet or the sweet simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all the lowly flowers wished to be roses, nature would no longer be enamored with lovely hues. And so it is in the world of souls, Our Lord's living garden.”
I gave thanks for the “Lord’s living garden” — the many friends (some of who are like family to us) who were with us in Montana and for those who couldn’t be with us. I asked God to bless and watch over each one of them by name and to bring them closer to Him. There is sadness in my heart for those who do not currently know God so I asked God to guide me in helping bring them to Him, if that be his holy will. A friend passed into eternal life just before our trip and I prayed for him and his family as they were preparing for his funeral.
I gave thanks to God that my physical body had the ability to hike, and was reminded how good it felt to sweat and feel my leg muscles working after lots of sitting on airplanes. I was thankful for the gift of faith, to be alive here and now to witness the overturning of Roe vs. Wade that will save so many precious lives, for a joyful heart, and for the glorious mountain views.
I continued my conversation with God basking in the landscape he created. I talked to him about some new ministry work ahead and repeated, “speak Lord, your servant is listening” as I tend to talk more than I listen — even though I know that listening is the most important part. God responded in His gentle way and I felt peace being with him in this precious time. Being alone with him was just what I needed that day after some very busy days. It actually felt much like how I feel when i leave the Adoration Chapel after a Holy Hour.
As rain clouds moved in, I turned back for the inn and made a mental note to pop a raincoat in my bag on the next hike as Montana weather changes in a minute. I made it home before the rain, and thankfully there were no bear sightings. I was filled up with God and ready to rejoin family and friends for more adventures, refreshed and renewed, from my hike alone with God.