Dear Ones of St. Columba's,

Last week I took a pilgrimage through the Paria Canyon, which is a 38 mile long chunk of the Paria River. The Paria winds along the border of southern Utah and northern Arizona. It's landscape is like nothing I have seen before - tall red cliffs, huge striped rocks, and in places canyon walls so close to each other that a human can touch both sides at once. 

In preparation for this journey, our group of pilgrims (10 Episcopal priests), read the book The Solace of Fierce Landscapes, by Beldan Lane. In the very beginning of the book Lane includes a quote from Jon Levenson, "Geography is simply a visible form of theology." I thought about this quote often in the days before I left on this journey, and every day while we hiked - how much there is to learn about God through the geography of our world. And, perhaps, how much there is to learn about us, by the geographies we create for ourselves in our cities, churches, and homes. 

Geography is about more than landscape - it also includes weather, climate, wild and less wild life. As we get deeper into fall, I notice different parts of the geography of this place where we live. The sun sets in a different spot over the mountains, and so much earlier. The mornings are cold, the birds are on the move. All of this is not only information about our world, but also a source of inspiration, and information, about God. 

So what does the geography of your life tell you about God? How does the visible theology of your home, your family, the nature and season and climate of this Pacific Northwest, shape your faith? 

I believe this is an important and real part of how God makes Godself known to us. Our patron, Columba, was part of a Celtic tradition that practiced a Christianity in deep communion with geography, nature, and the turning of the seasons. As we head toward the fierce darkness of winter, let's keep our eyes open to how God moves through the geography of our lives, and of our place. 

with care and gratitude,

Alissa