Earth Lessons
trying to find my way
in an unfamiliar place
looking for signs
looking for fulfillment
need to be safe
need to follow the Way of Love
finding beauty
how will I know I’ve found my way
who will tell me
what will the sign be
what will it tell me
prayer
I decided to go on a reflective meditation hike and chose the Chupadera National Recreation Trail. It is a part of the National Recreational Trail System, and it is in a designated wilderness area. Wilderness areas have special restrictions, including the absence of roads, mechanized equipment is not allowed, and there are very limited trail signs. If you go into a wilderness area, you expect to find nature without signs of human activity. There might be a faint trail. The trail might be hard to follow at times, in fact most of the time. Those kinds of hikes are challenging yet appealing to a person in love with the great outdoors. They test your ability. And they offer a greater chance of being in a quiet, and reflective place. Moments on a trail like this are more likely to lead to opportunities for hearing God’s message. Listening is more intentional. And so is noticing. What you may find to guide you in a wilderness area is a special kind of trail marker called a rock cairn.
For it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went and among all the peoples through whom we passed. NRSV Joshua 24:17
Now when these signs meet you, do whatever you see fit to do, for God is with you. NRSV 1 Samuel 10:7
Awe came upon everyone because many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. NRSV Acts 2:43
I drove south on Route 1 towards Bosque del Apache and found the turn off to the Chupadera Trail. Route 1 followed the Rio Grande, and along its banks were Cotttonwood trees showing off their golden fall colors. The roots of the Cottonwoods need to be in water, I’m told. Where there is water in New Mexico, there’s likely to be Cottonwoods. So they are like a sign, guide, or marker, like the rock cairns. They make a striking presence.
One of the joys of this hike was turning out to be the presence of rock cairns to mark the trail. A fellow hiker I met this day mentioned how grateful she was to find them, how the hike experience was more enjoyable because someone with knowledge had taken the time to build them in the right places. When I came home I did a little checking on the history of rock cairns as they are not that common in southern new Mexico. I learned that different parts of the US are known for different styles of trail markers. The Appalachian Trail for instance is apparently known for its white blazes that mark the trail through 14 states. As you travel West and South, rock cairns become more common.
Mounds of rocks used in the Andes, Tibetan Plateau and Mongolia are ancient and historical. Cairns have been used for non-trail marking purposes, such as burial markers, for defense, ceremonies, or even hiding a cache of food. Sometimes even as an artistic form.
Today on the trail they were both reassuring and artistic. I took time to look at their construction. And marvel at how well the seemingly random arrangements were apparently withstanding wind, floods and maybe even animal collisions. But here they were doing their job and showing me the way.
I turned away from admiring the beauty of the colorful Cottonwoods, now in their fall colors, and started to hike towards Chupadera Peak. I wondered what might be a good thought to hold in mind as I hiked, or a good question to ask myself? Perhaps, what is the Earth teaching me today? What are the Earth’s lessons? Yes, that would be a good question to ponder.
I had not hiked the Chupadera Trail in a few years. I had a vague memory of the Trail that would be helpful but also not interfere with the meditation part of the hike. I wanted to notice what was there to see. I wanted the Earth to teach me. Going somewhere new or unfamiliar is a good way to do that. It automatically places you into a state of seeing, really seeing, and examining, not just passing by. You must pay extra attention when hiking on a new, unfamiliar, wilderness trail. You might miss something important, a trail marker or something new and interesting or even a potential danger. Good footing requires looking before stepping. There might be some fear involved because no matter how well you prepare, this is a wilderness area. You need to expect the unexpected. But not be so afraid that you don’t enjoy the beauty. God’s creation is all around. I wondered, could I be too afraid to even begin?
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. NRSV Psalm 121:7-8
But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
NRSV Micah 7:7
Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. NRSV 1 Corinthians 16:13
Fear can be disabling. One way to overcome it is to think of a hike, or just about any challenge, as a group of parts, working together. Then, after preparing for the parts, you can start out enjoying each of the parts, one at a time. The worrying about what might happen next just seems to disappear. The parts become very doable that way. They are smaller and not so overwhelming. I certainly needed to be confident that I could do this hike. Preparation was important. It included studying all I could about what I might encounter, bringing a compass, emergency weather protection, enough water and high energy food, all essentials for hiking but most especially necessary for a wilderness area. The description of this trail at the trailhead reminded hikers of the potential dangers of wild animals, reptiles, flash flooding, even an old mine shaft, in the area. A prior knowledge of signs of their presence would be helpful. And finally, knowing the weather forecast and the amount of daylight available on that day and the expected hiking time would finish off the work of preparation. Then, it was time to just relax and go to it! The trail was 9.5 miles, with an elevation gain of 1800 ft. and was classified as strenuous. A challenge!
Off I went. I started asking myself, what was the Earth teaching me? To prepare, not worry, have faith.
Near the start of the trail, there was a place I noticed where many, about 30 or more, small plants had started to grow. Their arrangement was in a pattern, like concentric circles, all surrounding a much larger, more mature plant of a different type. I guessed that the small ones must’ve germinated at the same time, a very unusual occurrence in the wilderness I would think. A seed in the wilderness has so many more challenges to its existence than in a home garden or nursery. In the wilderness the seed’s life is left totally to chance. Will it get enough water? Will it be ignored by birds or other seed eating critters? Will it receive enough sunlight? And not only did this group of seeds meet all those challenges, but they also matched their timing and grew in almost perfect circles. I noticed this, what is it teaching me?
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. NRSV Psalm 85:11
They are the shoot that I planted, the work of my hands, so that I might be glorified. NRSV Isaiah 60:21
It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. NRSV Matthew 13:32
As I made my way along the trail, I decided to take a water and snack break, and to also turn around and look back toward my starting place. I did and gosh, what a view, what a treat! A friend used to call these moments of beauty in nature, eye candy. Each time I turned around, I discovered a new thing of beauty, God’s creation! Unexpected! Thrilling! The fall colors of the Cottonwood along the Rio Grande! The deep blues and grays of the distant mountains, I was pretty sure they were the Oscura Mountains. Then the shades of greens and browns on the floor of the mesa that made up the Bosque del Apache. And the shadows on the Earth from the clouds passing by. I quickly grabbed my camera. This was a moment to capture. And once I made the discovery that stopping and turning around yielded such beauty, I made a point of continuing to stop again and again to see how the view might have changed as I got higher in elevation. And so, the view did change. This stopping probably slowed me down a bit, but it was worth it. What was the Earth teaching me?
They turn round and round by his guidance to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. NRSV Job 37:12
Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that moment. NRSV Matthew 9:22
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” NRSV John 1:38
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. NRSV John 20:14
Next up to notice and enjoy were the dark, chocolate brown-colored spires of rocks in the narrow canyon, right before I started the ascent up Chupadera Peak. They had a very unusual and distinctive look. They looked like the surface had hardened at the same time the rock was liquid, as if it was still flowing downward. Looking freeze dried! Bumps, ridges, drippy looking places, holes, all along the way. Very intriguing. I need to investigate further. Some geologist must’ve written about this formation. It was so different from all the rest of the area. Sure enough I found a scientific article written on this particular formation that identified the material as solidified volcanic ash also known as tuff. In another research paper I learned that tuffs are deposited instantaneously and often over a large region. This makes them highly useful as time-stratigraphic markers. I found it a strange name for volcanic ash. The word comes from Old French, tuf and from Italian, tufa
As I hiked into the canyon, there were many beautiful desert plants, almost as if it was a desert botanical garden. Unplanned, but most intriguingly, looking planned! The Creator’s hand was evident. I felt that I was in a spiritual place, a place close to the Holy Spirit, a place of communion with the Creator. As I thought more about what was drawing me to do this hike in the wilderness, as well as other hikes in very intriguing places of New Mexico, I wondered if it could be a desire to answer the Holy Spirit’s call. When I first moved to New Mexico, I remember thinking, this land is calling me. Maybe it wasn’t the land calling but the Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit is strong when I do these hikes. Feeling the presence provides rejuvenation and new energy. That feeling is most welcome, especially now.
Sometimes things on my mind receive answers during a hike. One of the most amazing things I can do on a hike, is to present a question to the Holy Spirit and ask for guidance. As I walk along, the question is there, but kind of tucked away in the background, and other things take over, like observations and wonder. Then without warning, it can happen that an answer will come quite clearly and decisively and with joy! I thank the Holy Spirit. I am grateful.
As I made my way through the canyon, the trail kept guiding me higher. I met a fellow hiker on her way down. We chatted for a bit, I asked questions about the condition of the trail ahead, she supplied answers and suggestions of how to approach it. She was very friendly and helpful!
For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. NRSV Isaiah 57:15
When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. NRSV Mark 13:11
for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.’ NRSV Luke 12:12
and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. NRSV Romans 5:5
For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. NRSV Romans 14:17
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. NRSV Romans 15:13
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? NRSV 1 Corinthians 6:19
As the winter grass blows and waves in the wind, so the Holy Spirit gently guides me on a path of enrichment of life, service, gratitude, connection with the Earth, and sharing abundant joy. The Earth’s lesson for this day. The Holy Spirit brings hope, and that hope brings joy!
For it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went and among all the peoples through whom we passed. NRSV Joshua 24:17
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. NRSV Psalm 121:7-8
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. NRSV Psalm 85:11
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” NRSV John 1:38
For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. NRSV Isaiah 57:15
When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. NRSV Mark 13:11
searching
unfamiliar
looking
signs
need
safety
Love, Beauty
knowing
answers
prayer