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My wife and I recently returned from six days on the trail. We hiked the Cape Scott and North Coast Trails. Thus far, we've only done two multi-day hikes (the West Coast Trail and the North Coast Trail). There is something about being 'out there' and away from the daily routine that tends to draw one's thoughts towards a deeper contemplation. This is not to say that one cannot find time and space within the framework of his/her 'normal life' - indeed one can and must. Instead, this is to say that on the trail, out in the wilds, there is a context which seems easily conducive to contemplation.
It seemed to me, while out on the trail, that nature - that is to say, creation - is itself an icon of the divine. At home I tend to use icons as aids to prayer. The use of icons in prayer is a holy and ancient practice of the Christian church. Icons are understood to act as 'windows' into the divine, as signposts pointing our thoughts to God. Christian teaching has also long held that creation itself is an icon of He who created it. The wonder of creation points to the creator - it sings of his majesty.
As I sat on the beach, or hiked on the trail, I often found my thoughts ascending heavenward. I heard the words of the liturgy sung by creation - the trees, the waves, the clouds, the eagles soaring above - I heard them sing as we sing each Sunday:
Holy, holy, holy Lord
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory,
Hosanna in the highest.
Out there on the trail I felt the divine call to praise and wonder. In church each Sunday we sing these words; out their I listened as creation sang them.
My favourite of the six days out there began with a hasty packing up of our camp as the rain poured down on us. It was a day of off-and-on-again rain. But after we had reached our destination where we were going to camp for the night, the sun decided to begin to peek out from among the clouds. I strolled out towards the crashing waves and stood on the beach trying to get a glimpse of the sun. Suddenly it broke free from the clouds and a beacon of light burst out and showered me with its brilliant radiance. I couldn't have kept the smile from my face if I had tried. I was overcome with joy and stood there with my arms wide-spread soaking in the rays. It really felt good to be alive. My heart sung a silent song of praise and gratitude for the gift.
Indeed, I hope that my eyes and my heart will be able to look out with each new day towards the icon of creation that God has provided us with as an aid to prayer. I hope my ears will learn to continually hear that divine liturgy, that song of praise, that creation sings out in honour of His majesty.
Gloria In Excelsis Deo!!
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