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Outdoors

July 9, 2015 By Bob Waruszewski 4 Comments

The Mountains Are Calling: A Week in the Wilderness with Wilderness Outreach

wilderness outreach“The mountains are calling, and I must go.” This quote from John Muir captured my thoughts as I prepared for a week-long expedition with Wilderness Outreach to the Domeland Wilderness of California. I was seeking to delve deeper into the soul of masculine spirituality through worship and work in the desert; the wilderness would not disappoint me.

Our crew was composed of six laymen, a priest, and a cook. Our mission in the wilderness was to clear a few miles of trail that had been obstructed by overgrown thorn and fallen trees. To accomplish our goal we would use crosscut saws, pulaskis, loppers, hand saws and axes. No chain saws would be used, for this work was to be done by the sweat of our brows.

Besides trail clearing, our aim was to engage the intellectual and spiritual components of each man through daily Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, and nightly discussion on leadership and the theology of the masculine body.

Life in the wilderness can be a double-edged sword. The splendor and power of God is on display everywhere you gaze, from the gigantic rock faces atop some of the mountains to the brilliance of the glowing stars in the nighttime sky. However, this beauty can only be experienced by those willing to sacrifice modern comforts while camping in the wilderness.

Cell phones and electronics were put away, as there was no reception in that remote area. Water had to be drawn from the nearby creek and then purified drop by drop for consumption. A latrine had to be dug outside of a camp for sanitary reasons. Showers would consist of washing in the nearby creek. Voluntarily giving up so many conveniences may seem like a burden to many, but not to the men on this trip who knew the value of sacrifice. These sacrifices helped us truly appreciate the many things we take for granted in our modern world: clean water, hot shower, fresh food, etc.

Domeland WildernessThese were just a few of the challenges we would face that week. Because of the drought in California, we had to camp near the only creek in the area and then hike at least three miles uphill each day to the starting point of where the trail needed to be cleared. Since there was no water on the trail, one day each man had to volunteer to carry a few extra gallons of water so that the group could stay hydrated as we worked. That water felt heavier and heavier as we climbed the trail each day. Yet the sacrifice of the man who carried the water enabled our group to finish our goal of clearing the trail to the next pass in the mountains.

The physical toil in the desert served as a catalyst to heighten each man’s awareness of God and his role within the Creator’s world. Each night we would discuss how God spoke to us through our work and wrestled with the call God gives each man to lead, even if it is just himself or his family. We reflected on how our society is falling apart, and what we must do to rebuild it, as the Benedictine monks did in the Dark Ages for Europe.

By the end of the week, we had hiked over 60 miles and cleared nearly 60 trees from the trail while also taking some time to enjoy the beauty of the mountains and rock faces that abound in the Domeland. We were tired but satisfied with the amount of work we were able to accomplish and the brotherhood we had formed through our work and worship.

So if you looking for an opportunity to be tested physically, spiritually and mentally, look no further than a trip with Wilderness Outreach. The world, the flesh, and the devil are assaulting us daily. How will you respond as a man? Will you sit on the couch while our society crumbles, or will you help rebuild the world with true Catholic culture? The Church needs her men to step up and lead. Come, fight for your king!

*There are still openings for 2015 expeditions, click here for more information.

Filed Under: Outdoors, Uncategorized

June 17, 2015 By Sam Guzman 10 Comments

A Few Thoughts on the Environment

farmerBoth secular environmentalists and Catholics are waiting with bated breath for the release of Pope Francis’ new encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si. Many Catholics are deeply worried that the pope will play into the agenda of radical environmentalists, while many secularists are thrilled that the pope will seemingly endorse their worldview.

I haven’t read the Holy Father’s encyclical yet (yes, it was leaked, but I don’t read Italian), so I don’t have anything to say about it—but I do have a few thoughts about our relation to the natural world, as it is a topic I have thought about quite a bit. I’m going to wade into controversial waters today and share them with you. Here they are in no particular order.

“It Doesn’t Matter”

A common refrain among concerned Catholics is that the issue of the environment simply doesn’t matter. “The salvation of souls is what we have to worry about. What does recycling have to do with our eternal destiny?” This is a common line of thinking. And to an extent, I would agree with it. Yes, the salvation of our eternal souls is preeminent—but that does not mean the Church must cease speaking about other issues. In fact, much of Catholic social teaching was expounded in times of great cultural crisis, and I believe we should be careful not to dismiss this issue simply because it does not, at least on its face, appear to relate to heaven or hell.

The second reason I believe this issue of the environment is important is because it is being used to promote one of the most anti-human ideologies in history. There are environmentalists who literally want to exterminate the vast majority of human beings in order to save the planet. This is, quite simply, evil, and we should not ignore this twisted ideology or let it go unanswered.

Just as previous popes combatted Socialism and Communism by teaching the true Catholic understanding of labor and property, I believe the Church must combat radical environmentalism by offering the true, Catholic understanding of the environment, an understanding that places mankind at the center. That is, we must proclaim the fact that God made the world for us, not us for the world. Only by teaching the truth about the natural world, and our relation to it, can this deadly anti-human ideology be defeated. So  in short, I believe this issue does matter and it should not be dismissed as irrelevant.

Conquerors or parasites?

There are many destructive ways of looking at the natural world, but I find they generally fall into two categories: Those who view the world as a meaningless resource for profit (The Conquerors) and those who view humanity as worthless invaders destroying a beautiful world in which we do not belong (The Parasites).

The Conquerors see the earth as utterly meaningless and devoid of any intrinsic value. Mankind is all that matters, especially our gain through stripping the earth of its fruits for profit. Respect the earth? Hardly. They don’t care about it in the least as long as it is providing them with income. In a sense, they view the earth as a slave, valuable only to the extent that it produces. This ideology is wrong in that it places humanity above the earth as its unlimited master.

The Parasites, on the other hand, view humanity as a destructive invader. We have no real place in this world, they argue, and ever since we have been here, we have done more harm than good. The world would be much better off without humans and our polluting influence. The growth of the human population is no better than the spread of a disease. To save the earth, we must eliminate humanity. That is their anti-humanistic reasoning. The Parasites advocate for things like abortion, contraceptive population control, and euthanasia. Their ideology is wrong and deadly because it places humanity below the earth and as subservient to it.

The Catholic understanding of the earth is entirely different. Unlike those who would place us  above the earth as its unlimited master, and those who would place us below the earth as a disease that must be exterminated, the Catholic faith teaches that we belong with and in the earth. It is our home, the place that God has given us to cultivate. Like St. Francis (who I would be the first to argue is often abused and twisted into something he never was), the Church would say that creation is not our slave or our master—it is our brother. And it is our brother for the simple reason that we have a common Father, our God who created both us and every living thing.

The Earth is a Gift to Be Loved

The earth is not a resource to be stripped bare, it is a gift to be loved. That is, God made the earth for us. He poured all his creative power into forming for us a home teeming with life and fruitfulness. In a very real way, all of creation is a gift from his fatherly heart.

With the gift-ness of the earth in mind, we should see it not as a meaningless resource to be destroyed endlessly for profit, neither should we see it something that we should serve with a worship that is due to God alone. Rather, we should treat it with respect and love, using it as we would any gift from someone we love—that is, carefully.

Have you ever been given a gift by someone? It doesn’t matter what it is. Perhaps your dad gave you a watch for your high school graduation. There is an unspoken awareness that this gift is a sign of love, and therefore that it should be respected and cared for. How grievous would it be if a son turned around and immediately sold his father’s gift on Ebay? Or threw it in the trash? It would be highly disrespectful. Likewise, when we abuse God’s gift of the earth, it is a slap in his face and it grieves his heart.

I believe the true, healthy, and anthropocentric view of the environment hinges upon this fact: That it is a gift of love from God our Father that reveals his goodness to us. Yes, we must use it, and we should cultivate and eat of its fruits. But when we lose sight of the fact that it is a gift, abuse will inevitably follow. In fact, I would argue that when we lose sight of dignity of creation, we also lose sight of our own dignity as made in the image of God, though perhaps we will not realize it immediately. Put another way, it is a very small step from seeing the earth as a resource to be abused for gain to seeing human beings in the same way.

Concluding thoughts

I really don’t know what Pope Francis’ encyclical will say, but I would ask you not to dismiss the issue of our care for the earth as irrelevant. It is not. Again, just as the church once addressed the evils of Communism and Socialism with the Catholic vision for labor, so must the Church address the evil of radical environmentalism with the Catholic understanding of the environment.

I would also remind those who may be concerned that Pope Francis is hardly the first pope to address this issue. While it doesn’t get as much attention, the care of the earth was close to the hearts of both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II, and they spoke about it frequently. Whether or not what Pope Francis has to say is in continuity with his predecessors remains to be seen, but he is certainly not innovating by teaching on this topic.

At the same time, do not be surprised if the Church’s teaching on the environment has a “both/and” quality to it that transcends political labels. Catholic social teaching, whether it be on economics or the environment, often defies simple categorization. So on such issues, be quick to listen and slow to react.

I will conclude by saying that a care for the other does not necessitate a lack of care for the soul. One can simultaneously care for God’s gift of creation and strive for sanctity at the same time. No one knew this better than St. Francis, the preacher of penance, who loved God’s creation as a revelation of his goodness, but never once descended to the level of a pantheistic earth worship. No one was more concerned for the salvation of souls than he, and no one praised the beauty of creation more. I will conclude with his canticle that reveals our proper attitude toward the earth. Meditate on it carefully.

The Canticle of the Sun

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility.

Filed Under: Environment, Outdoors

January 30, 2015 By Jason Craig 30 Comments

In Praise of Catholic Homesteading 

5_1_SWhen the Papacy is vacant the whole Church looks longingly for a puff of smoke from a little chimney – the household of the Church feels lonely without Papa.   When it comes we rejoice, because our father has come home. When I see puffs of smoke from little homesteads in the countryside I feel the same – a father has come home to be with his family by living together on the land.

There’s a movement in the hearts of men, especially young fathers. They want to farm. I can’t count the calls I’ve received that begin: “I think God is calling us to homestead.” I can only describe it with that word: a movement. There’s no need for big organizations to promote it – its just happening. Call it another “back to the land” fad or what have you, but something is happening. Pope Benedict XVI recognized it too when he said:

“More than a few young people have already chosen this path; also many professionals are returning to dedicate themselves to the agricultural enterprise, feeling that they are responding not only to a personal and family need, but also to a ‘sign of the times,’ to a concrete sensibility for the ‘common good.”

I can’t say it any better. Men are moving back to the land for their families and as a response to the “signs of the times”. And you can put that negatively, bringing up the need to flee the horrors in cities or the vapid banality of the suburb, or positively by bringing up the need for family farms providing quality food to their neighbors. Whatever the motivation, something is happening. I’m here to encourage those of you that feel this movement: pursue it!

You’re not alone either. G.K. Chesterton dedicated the end of his career to writing about recovering an agrarian and craft-based culture through what came to be called “The Catholic Land Movement”, a movement he would sum up simply as: “Three acres and a cow.” He was joined by other brilliant men like Hellar Belloc and Fr. Vincent McNabb, author of The Church and the Land. The rise and fall of thise movement is fascinating, but the point is that you are not the first Catholic to look around and have that guttural reaction: this is not how man ought to live!

Some people will roll their eyes and scoff at the idea that we need more young farming families, seeing it as silly idealism, but I can’t see a need more real than food and family – can humanity go on without the two?

Yes, you’ll be accused of “turning back the clock”. And? “The question is not whether you can set back the clock,” pointed out John Senior. “Of course you can. Clocks are instruments…” We farmers and homesteaders aren’t reactionaries or extremists, we simply want to live as men have lived since the dawn of time and still do the world over. We feel like Joseph and Mary wandering in Egypt longing to return to the Promised Land.

The scriptures, especially the Psalms, paint the happy man as a man blessed by his family and the land: “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table” (Ps. 128). Pope Pius XII, echoing the long tradition of the Church, praises farming thus: “God gave man the earth for his cultivation as the most beautiful and honorable occupation in the natural order” (emphasis added).

One of the greatest blessings of homesteading and farming life is the intimacy with nature. God speaks through nature – they sing his praises: “Through all the earth their voice resounds, their words, to the ends of the earth” (Ps. 18). Its not that we find “symbols” in nature of divine things, but that nature itself points beyond itself to the divine, and by living contemplatively on the land we learn to read the meaning of nature. In the book The Color of Blue: Recovering the Spirit of Contemplation, Benedictine monk Luke Bell says nature “is not something whose import we have decided upon: it is something given to us so that by contemplating it we may go beyond it to what it expresses.”

“Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made” (CCC 32, Rom. 1:19-20). God speaks through things He has made, and it seems that the more we are surrounded by things we have made the harder it is to hear Him. For the many that are not called to live on the land, they are still called to find ways to listen to God through nature, because “[the natural world] expresses a design of love and truth. It is prior to us, and it has been given to us by God as the setting for our life” (Benedict XVI). The farm is where almost all of life – work, leisure, prayer, meals – takes place in that very setting

Today we are not only utilitarian of each other, but also of the land, forgetting how to wonder and enjoy. We confuse knowing about a thing with knowing a thing. Our use of each other and nature mingled with our prideful spirits of doing and building make us forgetful of the spirit of reception, which is essential to wisdom and salvation.

Sweet is the lore which nature brings;

Our meddling intellect

Misshapes the beauteous forms of things:-

We murder to dissect.

 

Enough of science and of art;

Close up the barren leaves;

Come forth, and bring with you a heart

That watches and receives. (The Tables Turned, Wordsorth)

But it’s not just the intimacy with the land that brings the homestead to life, but intimacy with your family. I think the witness of fathers bringing their families to the farm is important for the broader agrarian movement, not only because family-less farms have a short economic shelf life (who keeps it going?), but it’s the full flourishing of the human person not just in nature but in a family. “You can’t have family farms without families,” Chesterton pointed out. This land and family affair is just plain good for men. Pope Pius XII, having already witnessed the effects of industrialization, which separated fathers from nature and family, said that farming is “so close to nature and based so substantially on the family,” that it is known to “produce altogether different men.” In my experience so far, that’s very true.

Here’s an example of nature, family, work, contemplation, and prayer coming together on the homestead: We decided that this winter we’re only using wood to heat our home. We have natural gas, but, well, I don’t like it. Yes, the gas is cheap and easy, but that thing drudged up from the darkness under us doesn’t compare to the gift of kindling which falls as a gift from above and is literally stored sunshine (that’s what a tree really is). The cutting, chopping, stacking, and drying that my family and I have to do constantly (and it is a chore!) bring us together around a unified work, filling our time with an activity that is both deep in meaning and fulfilling, and cultivates a spirit of gratitude for the earth’s abundance. As the Psalmist said, we are blessed “by the labor of [our] hands”. (And not one part of it is taxable!) This direct contact with the world and each other cannot be recreated anywhere else, without artificiality akin to a petting zoo.

We homestead together. We all watch for signs of spring – swelling buds on the dogwood out front and new grass in the pasture that the chickens, cows, and pigs will turn into eggs, milk, and meat. We know what seed on rocky soil does. We know that grapes only fruit well when pruned. Christ’s words are all around us.

When we first got out to the country the kids were bored. In the city we had basically lived a life of entertainment – how to we keep the kids occupied? Questions like that never come up now – there’s always work and simple fascination right outside. And we work and are fascinated together. We don’t have a TV but I can promise you a thunderstorm crawling over the hills can’t be recreated with computer graphics. Have you ever seen a child chase a firefly in a pasture? Oh it’s good. And it’s obviously something that has to be re-learned because when friends and family come to visit they always want to go somewhere – an attraction up the road or a neat store in the next town up. This home-centrism is odd to them.

And we homestead with neighbors. There is no spirit of competition out here. Excellence comes from communion with your neighbor not out-smarting them. Farmers give away secrets, and will stop in to tell you the latest piece of wisdom gained. Men help men because it’s right, not just when it benefits them or helps their profits. That’s love. It’s more than systems and economics out here. “Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of supply and demand,” said Wendell Berry, “it is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy.” And for those that think you can’t evangelize or witness to the Gospel in a rural setting I say: “Huh?” People with souls live out here too, and I have found that the deep spirit of community lends very well to witnessing to our Faith.

And as a father the great blessing is to be able to spend time with kids without simply being at the house. In the city, when I took time off to “just be with the family” it was actually kind of awkward. I basically just did stuff that my wife normally had to do alone, and as fun as it was it was a sort of disruption of the order that would need to be rebuilt when I left again for work. Helping your wife is good and necessary, but on the farm there is a sort of domain that I get to bring them in to which integrates seamlessly with the world inside.   The homestead is an extension of the house into a household, with levels of activity and work suited to different ages, etc. Its more than just “being home more”.

Now, I might be accused of being romantic, but the reason farming sounds so romantic is because it is. Sure, the reality of it involves blood, dirt, and manure, and its really hard, and sometimes that’s the case just with kids long before you step in the barnyard. There are neighbors here that will steal as fast as anyone in the city, and the beloved agrarian culture you read about in Wendell Berry novels is long gone, replaced by Dollar Generals, monoculture farming, and empty mills. And I also recommend that you give up the grandeur parts of your ideal: big colonial farmhouses and endless pastures.

The reality will be much humbler. But, like I said, I think we are in a movement of recovery and rediscovery. Men are remembering that “husband” means “house-bound” and that the word is also used to describe caring for the farm – “husbandry”. Farming and fatherhood just go together. I think the coals left from a more vibrantly burning culture of community, land, and God are being blown. And it’s getting warmer out here. I know some who have made it in a farming enterprise and others that have failed; I know those that stopped at the backyard gardening and others who homestead and live in a tiny house off-grid. I know some who left the city and returned jaded by the whole thing. It’s not for everyone. But it is for some, and those that try don’t regret it. And I think some of it – like the integration family, land, and God- is good for all. My point here is to say this: your dream is good, that desire is there for good reasons, and I encourage you to get your hands dirty. If the world seems too cold and lonely, maybe you just need to warm it up with a good tall compost pile.

—

Jason Craig is the Executive Director of Fraternus, which trains and equips men to mentor the boys into virtuous, Catholic men. Jason holds a Masters in Theology from the Augustine Institute and writes for TCM from his homestead in Western NC, where he milks cows and tends to a variety of plants and animals with his wife Katie and four kids (and counting).

Filed Under: Farming, Homesteading, Outdoors

September 2, 2014 By Sam Guzman 3 Comments

Trees are the Best Masters: 4 Reasons to Get Outdoors

dc6d4c6d582056fab6db7cbc61c2c214“What I know of the divine sciences and Holy Scriptures, I learned in woods and fields. I have no other masters than the beeches and the oaks.”
– Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

This past weekend, we went on a family camping trip in the local state forest. While we certainly enjoyed ourselves, I will admit that this trip was more a comedy of errors than anything. Camping for any length of time with two boys ages two and one is not the best idea!

Yet, despite the frequent moments of toddler-induced chaos, it was still quite refreshing to be away from the trappings of civilization for a brief time. It reminded me of the importance of doing so on a regular basis.

But enough about me. Here are four reasons you should get outdoors too—even if its just for a hike, a walk, or a bike ride.

1. It’s beautiful

When you live in town, you miss out on a lot of beauty. Sure, plants and animals are still there in limited, controlled quantities amidst the concrete, but manicured lawns and cookie-cutter homes simply cannot compare to the majestic silence of a forest filled with trees that are sometimes more than a century your elder.

But perhaps my favorite part of being away is the stars. Looking up at the studded heavens, it is no surprise to me that many a philosopher was inspired to contemplation by gazing at them. Thousands and thousands, no, millions, of stars fill the canopy of heaven, telling the glory of God, but we city folk hardly ever see them because they are drowned out by the harsh, orange-ish glow of street lamps.

Get outside and experience some real, God-made beauty. You won’t regret it.

2. It’s humbling

Human beings can often be quite proud. We look at our technological advancements, our scientific breakthroughs, and we think that we our the masters of our own fate. “We have no need of God and we are dependent on no one,” says the deluded modern man.

Yet, being in nature puts everything in perspective. It humbles us. Here is a world that exists quite well without our permission. Flowers, trees, insects, an infinite variety of animals—it is a world teeming with life, life which we did not create and which we too often destroy in our materialistic greed.

More than this, being in nature helps us realize that we realize that we are indeed dependent on God. Despite what we may sometimes think, food does not come from the local grocery store, nor does water spontaneously generate in our faucets. Everything we have or create in this world has its source in nature, which in turn has its ultimate source in God. We are in every way dependent creatures. We simply need a reminder of this from time to time.

3. It’s peaceful

Far too often, I hear people complain about how hectic and chaotic modern life is. Of course, this hurrying here and there is often our own fault, but regardless of how we got so busy, the fact is, the noise of modern life is unhealthy for us.

Being in the woods is calming. Crickets and birds, rather than police sirens and car engines, are the soundtrack. Cell phones, and the glistening, stimulating, and all too virtual world they offer, lose their power amidst the trees. Appointments, errands, and shopping trips fade away into irrelevance. Everything slows to an unhurried pace, allowing us to clear our addled brains. You will probably find the peace makes it easier to pray, too.

Spending time in nature, watching bees dance from flower to flower, seeing the sun set slowly and the moon appearing in its place, and feeling the warmth of the campfire flames, is rejuvenating to the masculine soul.

4. It’s challenging

As I mentioned before, being without modern conveniences can be humbling. Practically speaking, it can also be challenging in that we are forced to be more resourceful and creative in providing for our basic needs. You didn’t bring enough water? You better find a fresh water source. No toilet? Dig a hole. The ground is a hard under you sleeping bag? Man up.

In many ways, we modern men have become domesticated and soft. Yet, deep down, we still crave a challenge, and we relish the chance to push ourselves. Getting outdoors and stripping away modern conveniences can provide that opportunity.

What are you waiting for?

More frequently than we realize, we need to spend time in the peace and beauty of the created world. Being surrounded by God’s creation is necessary for each of us. Not only will we find praise and prayer welling up in our hearts as we experience the grandeur of nature, we will find our souls refreshed and rejuvenated, strengthened for the battle of daily life. What are you waiting for? Go outside.

PS: If you’re looking for a truly rugged and masculine experience that blends the Catholic faith, hard work, and the beauty of nature, check out Wilderness Outreach. It’s a fantastic men’s apostolate, and I hope to go on one of their wilderness expeditions in the near future.

Filed Under: Outdoors

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