Inspired by our hiking small groups at PCTC, Pastor Julie Delezenne wrote a 12-month hiking devotional to be used by small groups or individuals embarking on hikes in Northern Michigan (or similar climates!). Begin your hike by reading the devotional and closing prayer together and continue with one or more of the listed “practices” during the hike. Suggested hikes listed connect with the theme of the month (but are only suggestions!). May God bless your journey in God’s wonder-full creation.

June

The Great Lakes

Suggested Hikes: 

Empire Bluff Trail

Whaleback Natural Area

“Where I’m From” by Joanne Esser

I first belonged to Lake Michigan,

To its cold gray waves, sharp whitecaps,

Its terrible changeable moods

And how it crashes against the rocks

I once climbed on.  The never-still voice 

Of wind, its power over water- thrilling,

A little bit frightening.

But also to its splitters of silver, lilting notes

Lifted on the tips of splash.  White bright

Sun reflected in shards. Vast gleaming.

Both at once.

Was I born in awe?

I rose there, a girl brought so often

To the cusp of something.

A birthplace to which I keep returning 

As if called by that shifting gleam.

Child of water, light, ice.  Standing near

But rarely entering its chill, its grip.

Slippery boundary.  I hold my breath,

Balance there on the flat tops of boulders,

Chips of solid earth piled at its edge.

So many days spent poised on the brink

Of land and lake, working to keep equilibrium.

Have you ever had the chance to show someone a Great Lake who has never seen one or stood at its shores before?  It is often a thrilling, awe-filled experience:  “Are you sure this is not an ocean?!” “This is FRESH water?!?”  

For those of us born, like poet Joanne Esser, near the Great Lakes, or who have lived much of their lives around them, we might be more used to their presence, moods, and vastness, and yet their beauty, mystery, and “greatness” still can take our breath away.  Were we “born in awe”?  

In his book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, psychologist Dacher Keltner defines “awe” as: “the feeling of being in the presence of something that transcends your current understanding of the world” (7).    When we experience awe and wonder, Keltner argues, our individual sense of self gives way to realizing we are part of something much larger. In his study, he finds that we developed as humans living in community and as living beings with a physiological, psychological, and communal need for awe and wonder. We need to experience wonder in the world (through art, music, nature, community, encounters with the divine, etc.) in order to be greater in tune with our connection to the world beyond our individual selves. This connection is, of course, necessary for our survival.  

In our culture of individualism, materialism, and digital technologies, a rekindling and reconnection to our need for wonder is not just for our pleasure, but essential for our individual and collective well- being.

It is hard to stand at the top of the Empire Bluff, looking out over Lake Michigan and not feel a sense of wonder.  It has become quite a popular trail and if you are there in June, you are most likely not hiking alone but with neighbors, even from around the world.  Take some time to listen to the sounds and comments of wonder and awe from your fellow hikers.  Help them take a group/family picture to remember the moment.  Give thanks not only for the wonder of the immense water, but also the joy of connection and community.  

During the Hike:

• Stand at the water’s edge of Lake Michigan.  Repeat the prayer of wonder of Psalm 46: “Be still, and know that I am God.” 
• Touch the water and place the sign of the cross on your forehead or hand.  Remember your baptism and remember that it connects you not only with the God of the universe, but also with your neighbor and all of creation.  
• Discuss with a hiking partner or ponder alone:  What are some things that bring you wonder on a daily basis?  What do you love most about living near a Great Lake?  

Prayer: 

Creator God, your greatness is beyond what we can imagine.  You fill us with awe. Your creation continuously astounds us.  Let that awe transform us and our communities to live in love, care, and connection. Amen. 

Bibliography:

Esser, Joanne.  “Where I’m From.” In Dunes Review: Literary Journal, Vol 28 No. 2, Fall/Winter 2024.

Keltner, Dacher. Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. Penguin Press, 2023.