The Hiker
So much planning is required for this outdoor pursuit. The subject here is the serious hiker — the kind who sets out on long paths that lead into the middle of nowhere. These individuals are deeply connected to nature and attuned to the moods of the wilderness. They know where to settle in and make camp for the night.
Recently, a beautiful conversation unfolded with an old friend — a man of considerable experience on the trail.
We touched on so many subjects, but of course, true to form, the conversation turned to his walk with God. His answers were sincere, and understanding his path gave real insight into how the Lord works.
Nature
The beauty of nature is captivating, and the Lord uses it to draw the hiker into a deeper understanding of that beauty — a beauty that ultimately points back to Him. God is ever-present, but for the hiker, He speaks in a different language.
Jesus The Hiker
We must take into account that our Lord withdrew from the crowds to be with His heavenly Father. This was not escape — it was communion. Prayer in solitude was the very heartbeat of His public ministry.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. This was no accident and no weakness. It was a deliberate entry into the wilderness — Spirit-led, purposeful, and redemptive. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards He was hungry. Scriptures says He was hungry — and that hunger became the opening the enemy sought to exploit. (Matthew 4:1-2)
The Attacks
The first assault was directly connected with that prolonged fast. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” (Matthew 4:3) Our Lord’s answer came swiftly, drawn not from power but from the Word of God itself: “One does not live by bread alone.” (Luke 4:4)
This is the pattern the enemy follows to this day: he does not attack when we are at our worst, but when we are at our most human — when the body aches, when the stomach is empty, when the spirit has poured itself out in prayer. When our Lord was hungry, St. Hilary teaches, “it was not because He was overcome by want of food, but because He abandoned His manhood to its nature. For the devil was to be conquered, not by God, but by the flesh.”
Public Ministry
With the call comes ministry.
Twenty years of teaching a Bible study was part of that call — and the hours spent in preparation opened my spiritual eyes to a deeper understanding of the Word. Daily Mass gently broke through boundaries I never realized existed. But it was the Eucharist that brought everything into full circle.
New Doors
Sitting idle would never take hold — because the moment one door closed on the Bible study, the Lord opened a new and more active calling.
Idleness weakens the soul. And this is precisely where the Enemy moves in. “You’re too old to be teaching classes. Who do you think you are? These kids want someone younger.”
Ignoring those false accusations took prayer.
But once the teaching began — preparing students for their First Holy Communion, guiding others through Confirmation — the mighty grace of God took control.
Social Media
Using social media to promote this blog has caused a drift from reality. Post, then scroll — and before long, an hour has slipped away. Time that belongs to prayer, quietly stolen.
I pray for those on Social Media who are given little time to live, the prayer is always the same: that they make peace with God, so they can continue the journey home.
Some of these individuals know nothing of God and are, sadly, walking toward the unknown. To them, this is the end. But to those whom God has chosen to witness to others — they know their final journey ends in the arms of Jesus.
God’s mercy rests on all the dying, and especially on those who have never called on Him. It may be the last minute — but God was there all along. We are the ones who step away. He never forsakes us.
The Lost Hiker
This past weekend, a hiker fell to his death attempting to photograph a waterfall. It is common news — some hikers grow disoriented and lose their way, while others fall from the side of a cliff and need rescuing.
These are experienced hikers. They purchase only the best protein bars to stay fueled, carry specialized water bottles unknown to most. Their backpacks speak of the journey — the distance to be covered, the height to be climbed, the summit where something like peace waits.
To those hikers who can fathom the creation of God — who are already serving Him, sharing the Good News with others — the trail has a name and a destination.
But the lost hiker who does not serve God, who carries no spiritual covering, is simply on a journey. One day, two roads will meet. And the lost hiker will have to choose.
They understand the beauty. But they have not yet grasped who created it. They have become their own religion, looking inward for answers that only God can give. Their hearts have not yet yielded to what God has in store for them.
But one day, they will look back — and see what was in front of them the entire time.
God is the answer. He is found in nature, yes. But He is calling for more than admiration. He is calling you to serve. He is calling you to belong to a community of believers — a place where you will be known, loved, and held accountable.
My Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for all the beauty that surrounds us. As we take this spiritual hike, may we never forget — You are with us every step of the way.
Amen.
