October 11: Embracing Divine Wilderness
- Scriptural: Psalm 23:3 — “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
- Reflection: This scripture comes from one of the most beloved and comforting Psalms in the Bible. It promises us a guide and companion who will aid us during life’s travails.
Sometimes transitions lead us into wilderness experiences—places where we feel lost or uncertain. Yet, these spaces are bountiful grounds in which to pause, listen, discern, and grow.
Consider the pattern of the hero’s journey. In such stories, ordinary women and men leave their homes, go out into the unknown, encounter challenges, find guides and mentors, build community with companions on the road, learn lessons, develop strengths and skills, and return home with new knowledge, self-awareness, and resilience. They are seen as leaders, champions, heroes and heroines.
Trust that God’s loving hand is leading us, even in times and places when we feel dislocated and discouraged and disadvantaged. Re-orienting our lives, re-framing our sense of identity and purpose, and re-defining our capacity to endure and overcome … these are often some of the outcomes when we emerge from the wilderness of transitional times in our lives.
This scripture also reminds us to lean on the presence of God. We are not alone, and we are not expected to cope based solely on our own inner reserves … God offers what we need to flourish along the way. - Spiritual Practice: Consider using or reflecting on the Four Directions prayer out of Native American traditions, designed to orient your body, mind, and spirit:
- Stand in a sacred space, facing the East.
- East: Acknowledge the rising sun, new beginnings, and the wisdom of the ancestors. Offer thanks for the gift of a new day and ask for clarity and inspiration.
- Turn to the South: Honor the warmth and healing winds, the growing season, and abundance. Ask for comfort, warmth, and growth.
- Turn to the West: Face the setting sun, symbolizing the cycle of life, introspection, and the wisdom of elders. Pray for strength, introspection, and the courage to let go.
- Turn to the North: Address the power of the cold winds and winter. Ask for wisdom, endurance, and the strength to face challenges with courage and grace.
- Connect with the Earth and Sky: You may also choose to offer thanks to Mother Earth for her gifts and the Sky Father for the air and protection.
- Offer a final prayer: Conclude with gratitude to the Great Spirit, the Creator, and all the spirits for their continued guidance and presence.
Song:
- Into the Wilderness by Rachel Morley: https://youtu.be/FWTPH0mmFAk?si=r6Ns_FjGPJ7VVNzF
- Four Directions prayer by Metis elder Doreen Bergum: https://youtu.be/3rk-8eofIm4?si=J8dIylaiCWYMlwND
- Wilderness by Jeremy Camp: https://youtu.be/fKuQNpMWOFQ?si=BJXGw0ms5x2gzZcL
The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.― John Muir
Sometimes when you lose your way, you find YOURSELF.” ― Mandy Hale
It had nothing to do with gear or footwear or the backpacking fads or philosophies of any particular era or even with getting from point A to point B. It had to do with how it felt to be in the wild. With what it was like to walk for miles with no reason other than to witness the accumulation of trees and meadows, mountains and deserts, streams and rocks, rivers and grasses, sunrises and sunsets. The experience was powerful and fundamental. It seemed to me that it had always felt like this to be a human in the wild, and as long as the wild existed it would always feel this way. ―