Seated in these places—still and quiet for long hours—I contemplate their nature and their purpose. In these moments, I am nourished and made whole. It is the Lord’s enduring kindness and His indwelling Spirit that sustains me.
At birth, every human being possesses three essential components: body, soul, and spirit. These form the substance of our nature and the condition of our humanity. The body serves with its senses, appetites, and physical functions. The soul encompasses our desires, intellect, personality, and emotions. But the spirit—though present from the beginning—is disconnected from God. It lies dormant, inaccessible, and unresponsive to divine life.
Yet it is by the spirit that life truly flows. Just as a mirror reflects the appearance of the body, so the Word of God perfectly reflects the nature of the spirit. When one is born from above—born of the Most High, in Christ—a decisive transformation occurs. The former spirit, alienated from God, is put away. It dies and is no more.
The very power of God that formed the cosmos is the power that pierces between soul and spirit. When the new birth takes place, a new spirit is created within. The body remains as it was; the soul, too, remains unchanged in its faculties. But the spirit is made new—instantly, irrevocably. In that moment, the Spirit of Christ is imparted to you. Your spirit is perfected, made whole, and brought into union with God.
Even when the body and soul stumble or resist, the truth remains: in Christ, you are a new creation—holy, righteous, and pure. Following this rebirth, a gradual sanctifying process begins. The body and soul are awakened, made sensitive to divine reality, and increasingly responsive to God’s presence.
As it is written, “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus” (Philemon 1:6). This acknowledgment—believing what God has accomplished—initiates and sustains the renewal and transformation of the soul.
This is why I am drawn to the wilderness: to behold the works of God and to witness His glory in creation. In those places, my spirit communes with God. Just as the rivers, rocks, forests, and mountains proclaim His majesty and beauty, I too offer a quiet voice in echo. Through this gift of faith, I believe—and in believing, I give thanks, deeply and completely.
