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Morning Devotion for Eastertide
April 30, 2025
Invitatory
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live for ever.
Meditation-Rebecca Northington
A week ago this morning I embarked on a journey that I hope will take the next ten years of my life to complete. Inspired by the novel A Walk In the Woods, written by Bill Bryson in 1998, I have spent the last twenty odd years imagining how and when this adventure could take place. Like Bryson, I determined that “section” hiking was the only way I could cover the 2,200 miles of technical, and often wilderness terrain of the Appalachian Trail, and still live my regular life. Still, I never seemed to find the right time. Life does not appear to slow down.
So this fall as I taught the RYG about Misogi’s and the importance of challenging ourselves with experiences that push us outside of our comfort zones, I decided now was the time to begin the Appalachian Trail. Turning fifty years old seems like an appropriate prompt to lean into growth and development. I somehow convinced my wonderful siblings and cousin to join me, and we all met in Georgia to start at Mile 0-Springer Mountain.
We began our trek into the trail around 1 pm, and quickly realized no amount of podcast listening or literature could prepare us for what was/is to come. After 15 miles of hiking straight up and straight down, we set up camp in a driving rainstorm well after dark. Nearly everything we had brought was soaked. We were tired, hungry, thirsty and wet. It was humbling to say the least. But we woke up Thursday morning in what felt like the Garden. Everything we needed was right there with a beautiful running creek, birdsong, and rain-kissed woods.
When I read this passage from 1 John, I thought of the obvious parallels to the odyssey I have begun. One of the attractions for me has been the idea of leaving all of the material behind. The purity and simplicity of carrying everything you need, on your back, is liberating. Ironically, I believe most of us are overwhelmed by the material in our lives. It distracts us. It corrupts us. It weighs us down. When Jesus sends his disciples out to heal and teach he tells them to bring nothing, it is implied that God will provide, the love of man will provide.
Stepping away from worldly seductions is liberating. I felt that on the 50 miles of trail we covered. It was like entering a new and pure world where all we had to do each day was get from point A to B, feed and water ourselves, set up camp and break it down. It was like taking a spiritual bath, washing away all of the noise and pollution of our world. This is what I had hoped and dreamed for, and I loved it. What I wasn't prepared for was the power of the trail to turn off the monkeys in my mind. I assumed I would spend hours considering, exploring, imagining, and sorting various facets of my life and relationships, as I have on other adventures and other trails over the years. But somehow everything was turned off, and all I could do was consider the trail, the plants, the birds, the rocks: creation. As though that first night was a symbolic baptism and I was born again into a world that I was learning from scratch.
The world that I knew was passing away, and I was accepting a new world, as in 2nd Corinthians, or 1st John. A new time has begun, and when we embrace that new time all things are possible.
The reality of life prevents most of us from entering this kind of sacred vortex, where we can turn off the noise of everyday living. This passage points us towards doing that work ourselves, with intention, every minute of every day. It requires discipline, focus and a new kind of love; not the love of the world or the things in the world. But a love of God, and all that God makes possible.
Prayer from the C.S.Lewis Institute
Dear God,
You are the fount of all blessings,
source of all life,
and giver of all grace:
We thank You for the gift of life:
for air, food, and water;
for the love of family and friends;
for all the things without which
we couldn’t continue to live.
We thank You for the mystery of creation:
for the beauty that the eye can see,
for the marvels that the ear can hear,
for all the amazing mysteries that fill
the universe with wonder.
Help us to grow in knowledge and
appreciation of Your Creation,
To be good stewards of what You have given us,
And to always remember that every good gift
comes only from You.
We thank You for this day and for our life.
We thank You that You are our God, our Creator,
and our Savior.
For these, and all blessings,
we give You thanks, eternal, loving God,
through Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
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