ON PLACES TO PRAY IN

 ON PLACES TO PRAY IN - In one of his most famous quotations, naturalist John Muir reminds us that everyone “needs places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.”  I have found it to be so over the years.  And most of us, likely, have felt the need to return to Nature these past months so that it might heal, cheer, and strengthen us.  It’s no secret that I have found such healing and strength in America’s wonderful national parks.  Our summer national parks excursions have been a mid-year tonic for the soul, reinvigorating me to launch anew into church activities in September.  But our plans for adding new national parks to our “bucket list” this year was stymied by travel restrictions.  And I am feeling the loss.  We do hope to spend a few days in July in the Great Smoky Mountains NP, our “default” place to play in and pray in, where the mountains and creeks will cheer and strengthen us.  But for those who cannot travel to a national park, Nature in our own back yard or at a city park or greenway trail may provide a small dose of healing, cheer, and strength for body and soul alike.