Jaylen James
Last year, around this time I walked through a state park in Colorado on a trip with my family for a family reunion. Just as the sky began to close with clouds. The air couldn’t have smelled any better to me at the time. The sun just starting to disappear after a long day with it was so perfect. In that moment I understood what Francis was referring to and at first, I didn’t understand what he meant by “Praised be you, my lord, through brother sun, who brings the day and gives light through him”. But at that moment I did, and it was a relaxing feeling when I understood him.
I grew up traveling a lot because of my mom and grandma were already always traveling when I wasn’t here so it continued, and I was grateful for that. But that day standing in that state park life came at me or should I say I came at life. As I walked deeper into the park in Colorado, I started to notice the tiny things like spiders hanging from trees, the color changing on leaves on the ground and so much more. As crazy as it might sound, I felt the same as those things I felt no different from the things there was no hierarchy here it was almost like we were related in a sense. It was all life not for a moment did I think it wasn’t.
My time at that park made me realize that it more to life than just living, it changed my way of thinking about nature and the things that surround it. The canticle reminds me that the world is not only about conservation, but its way also more than that to love nature is like loving your family you must love it as your own. Or things will become unclear to you. I try to see the world as Francis did and with gratitude.
Noah Murdock
Hiking is an experience that everyone should have at some point in their lives. It is a lot of work for some people, but when you finally reach the top of or the end of the hike, it is the most rewarding thing in the world.
In the summer of 2024, I traveled to Park City, Utah, with my girlfriend, and one of the first things that we decided to do was to go on a nice hike. The weather in Utah around July was surprisingly not that hot at all. A calm 70-80 degrees, from what I could remember.
I had never gone hiking before in my entire lifetime, so I had no idea how difficult or easy it would be. However, I knew it would’ve been a nice, relaxing time together, so we went for it.
I am so glad we were able to pull through with it. The mountain we went up was on the steeper side, but it wasn’t too bad to walk up. As I was walking, I would look out to the horizon and just admire the open land that Utah has to offer.
Nothing topped the view that I was able to get from the end of the hike, however. I saw the vast mountains in the distance, the green open land from below, and the clear, blue sky from above without a cloud in sight. It was truly magical what I was seeing.
Being from the suburbs of Maryland, I wasn’t used to seeing the Earth this wide open. It was a once-in-a-lifetime view. I was truly appreciative of the beauty that Mother Nature and what God has created for us.
Along with Saint Francis, he was very appreciative of all God’s creations. As stated in his writing of The Canticle of the Sun, “Praised be You, my lord, through Sister Mother Earth, who sustains us and governs us and who produces varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.”
I related to this thinking back to the Utah trip because I was so appreciative of the Earth and the beautiful landscape that I had the pleasure to observe in awe. It really made the whole hike worth it.
I would do anything to get that experience back and go hiking again.
As spoken by Saint Francis, “give him thanks,” and I would definitely give the Lord thanks for all his creation and for having the ability to live through this beautifully designed world.
Arian Santos
“To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no man is worthy to mention Your name.”
This is the second line spoken in Saint Francis’s canticle of the sun that expresses his praise to the lord for brother sun, sister moon, brother wind, brother fire, mother earth and sister water.
We as humans ought to give praise to Father God for those many things he made for us just as Saint Francis did. We’ve all had tremendous experiences with nature. In fact – we have the luxury to experience nature every day as we walk outside, breathe, see, smell hear and taste.
I can recall many times that I had experienced nature, but one of the times stick out. It was the first time I had ever went out of the states to Puerto Rico in 2017. I remember seeing the ocean at nighttime from the balcony of the hotel we were staying in and thinking wow; God’s creation is beautiful. Seeing birds I’d never seen before and hearing animals in the night that I wouldn’t normally hear in Delaware was an amazing experience.
I also got to walk in forests and smell smell’s that I’d never smelt before. However, what stuck out to me was the large cave that me and my family went to while we were there. It was surreal. I wasn’t fully dark in the cave because of the large opening where we entered, but being in there was what really felt unreal. How can something so large be so beautiful and so carefully constructed. I remember the joy I felt as a 11 year old being able to see this.
I think that the joy I felt seeing the inside of that cave was the same joy Saint Francis felt for the creation of everything. “Praised be you, My Lord, through Sister Mother Earth, who sustains us and governs us and produces varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.”
Although we did not get to see any herbs or flowers in the cave, there were many outside-but we did get to drink cave water. Just as Saint Francis praised the lord because of everything he made for us, I praise the lord today thinking about that experience and all my nature experiences in general. God is truly an amazing God who was right to be praised for the creation of Brother Sun so we can have light, Sister moon that are “precious and beautiful” and so on and so forth. Nature is an amazing thing that was gifted to us constantly taken advantage of by those who walk by it everyday and don’t appreciate it. But the reality is, that’s most if not all of us. We ought to be grateful for all that our Father God has blessed us with. From the winds, to the fires, God made these beautiful things for us to enjoy. Just as Saint Francis said, praise be to the Lord our God.
Cameron Sims
Nature is all around us every day, when we go out and when we are indoors. Everyone has different experiences with nature, you can have a great one because of the smell of trees or just how nice a sunset looks. People could also have a rough time with nature, for example, getting stuck in a hailstorm would not be a fun experience for somebody to go through. In this essay I will be talking about my experience with nature and how it all affected me in a good way, being able to be around nature for a long time. The Canticle of the Sun by Saint Francis of Assisi is a poem that celebrates the beauty of nature and how it connects all living things. In the poem, Francis thanks God for creating the sun, moon, stars, wind, fire, and even the earth itself. He calls these parts of nature his brothers and sisters, showing how deeply he feels connected to them. This poem reminds us that nature isn’t just something we use it’s something we should respect and appreciate. “Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.”
My experience with nature was when I went on a ski trip with my roommates and some of their friends from back home. We went to Tannersville, New York, we had rented out a nice BNB play, trees around the house and a hot tub overlooking the house in the back. On our first night we were cooking steaks, sitting outside, and it was a great vibe. Everyone was happy, you could smell the fire because it was burning fast and very big. The whole trip was cool, walking around the town going to antique shops and seeing different cool items everywhere.
Overall, my experience with nature was a good one. I learned a lot from that experience and ever since we have been going back around the same time so we can experience the weather.
Adam Tahi
I love to cherish the moments I have with my friends, especially when I feel like things are going to change and I don’t think there are many opportunities left. I am a deeply social creature and value the connections and social links I make with those around me. As such, I love to go and do things with my friends. It doesn’t really matter what, so long as I have a buddy or two, it enhances the experience tenfold.
One of the most meaningful examples of this in recent memory is when I went to Long Beach Island in New Jersey with a couple of close friends. Out of the many things we did there, I think the most meaningful is when we went to watch the sunset.
We had spent a couple of hours riding bikes when one of my friends had mentioned going to watch the sunset. It was already pretty late, and we had enough time to make it, so we all agreed. We biked to a point by the shore and just sat down and watched. Watching the sun go down and the lighting change around us while we talked about everything and nothing at all was an experience like no other.
“And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,” is a description I feel nails the feeling.
The sunset was breathtaking. It was already something I would have enjoyed if I were by myself, but being with my friends made it so much more special. It is an irreplaceable memory and it certainly isn’t one that would have happened had we been elsewhere. Our surroundings are really what make the memory so special. Admiring something so beautiful with people I care for so much at such a point in my life… It isn’t something that could have happened had we not been outside in the embrace of the sun.
Thank you, Brother Sun, for allowing me such a special memory.
Srdan Vujanovic
Once, our class went on a school trip to the Camp Nature Park, and we thought the same thing: hikes, campfire songs, good food, and way too many mosquito bites. Instead, what we had not planned was to stare straight into the face of a wild boar. Those were the moments that made a simple morning walk something that I will never forget, the moments that made me look at nature and the role I play in it differently.
It occurred in the early hours, soon after sunrise. We climbed the hill me my friends and ended up walking along a narrow path where the oak and pine grew, and were toying with each other as to who should be the last to survive in the wilderness. Everything was alive, the crunch of late spring leaves, the chattering of the birds, and the distant flow of a stream all gave a wet earth smell. Then there followed the sound that paralyzed us, the deep rustling, and a grunt. There came out a wild boar, bristles up. We stood still for a couple of seconds. Don’t look in the eyes, dude, someone said. But I couldn’t look away. The boar was not attacking–it was just there as it had always been, as it was a part of the woods as powerful and unashamed as it was, it took off so fast, in the blink of an eye, as I turned around few of my friends were already rolling down the hill, while I was just standing mesmerized.
“Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures.” Words of Saint Francis, deep and beautiful.
I had read that sentence before, but by that time it actually had a meaning. It was not merely an animal that happened to make the crossing of our paths, but it was a living creature that deserved as much admiration and respect as Francis bestowed upon the same when he was addressing Brother Sun and Sister Moon. One of my friends said that nature reminded us who was the real boss. He was right. That experience took away our ability to have some sense of control and made us realize that the world is not ours; rather, it is shared, wild, and alive.
Saint Francis was the author of the 800-year-old Canticle, but his words are still heard in the forest. Praised be you, my Lord, By Brother Fire and Sister Water. All sunrises, all rustling leaves, all wild boars are telling that same thing. I did not simply view nature at Camp Nature Park, but I had to confront it. Experience that I’m grateful to have, as someone who truly loves both nature and animals.
Siede Washington
My experience in nature was when I went on a camping trip with my best friend. We visited a campsite in Delaware towards the end of last summer, and we encountered numerous problems and struggles during our stay.
When my friend and I, his mom, his dog, and his cat, arrived at the campsite, a big rainstorm was happening, so we had to run to the laundry room to wait out the storm. When the storm passed, we all went to the spot to set up our tent and everything, and also at this campsite, there was no electricity or service.
We faced numerous problems related to nature and its pests, but throughout it all, we still found a way to smile and laugh in the natural surroundings where we spent time.
The dog had anxiety problems, so every time Bryce’s mom would leave to go do something, the dog would bark loudly, and when we would leave the cat alone to do stuff, the cat would meow, and we had to leave the cat in its cage or keep it away from the dog because the dog would try to kill the cat. There was a guy who lived next to us who looked like a rugged homeless man. He was partially death, and he would walk around with a big dog named Colt, and his dog Colt had a tumor on his body and the homeless looking guy would scream randomly and one day when we woke up the police and camp gaurds were at his tent and me and my friend Brice were trying to figure out why they were there but we seen that they were searching through his stuff and then we left to go to the store and when we were coming back to the site there was another giant rain storm and the campsite was getting flooded and the cat was at the tent in its cage while the heavy storm was happening and me and Bryce ran down to the tent while it was raining I could feel the water overflowing in the grass as we were running it felt like I was running on top of a pool but we got to the tent and got the cat but the inside of the tent was flooded and we ran back to the car.
But even though we faced those challenges, we still managed to find fun. We went to Goodwill and found lots of things, but the thing that we found there that felt the most important to me is the Spider-Man wallet that Bryce found and got for me it was an old vintage wallet that was still in it’s case but the cool thing about it that it had a 10 dollar bill in it and I thought that was really lucky.
We pranked people with Bluetooth speakers, watched Breaking Bad, played soccer, and walked around the campsite. This trip was important because this was the last vacation I went on before summer ended, and I had to start college, and it would be the last time I would see my friend for a while. This story relates to the Canticle of the Sun because even though nature took its course and ruined some things on our trip, we still found a way to find peace within nature.
Xavier Whitaker
Standing at the edge of Niagara Falls with my grandmother and cousin, I realized that some sights don’t just impress you they humble you.
It was the summer of 2023 when we finally made the trip. My grandmother invited my cousin and me because she felt like we didn’t spend enough time together. My grandmother is a travel fanatic, but I’ve always been more of a stay-at-home and relax type of person. We went for three days, and each day taught me something new about appreciating everyday life.
My grandmother and I boarded the train at 2:00 p.m. and arrived around 7:00. During those hours, we talked a lot. She asked me how I’d been feeling and went over the schedule she had planned for us. I was joyous and excited for a trip that, honestly, I had taken for granted before leaving. After seeing my grandmother and cousin doze off, I stayed up looking out the window at the night sky. The stars outside were bright and endless, and the rhythm of the train made me feel calm. Eventually, I drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up, we were in Niagara Falls, New York. After unloading our luggage into the Uber, my grandmother made us pause. “Take it in, be at peace,” she said. “Realize that the world should be traveled.” Those words stuck with me. I felt a sense of oneness with the world the air, the wind, and the quiet energy of the morning.
We checked into our hotel and relaxed for a bit, catching up on home, school, family, and friends. Later, we walked to the Rainforest Café for dinner, shared a meal, and headed back to rest for the next day the real adventure.
The next morning, we visited the Falls up close. My favorite part of the trip was the weather a light drizzle that somehow made the moment even more alive. As we boarded the boat, ponchos on, the excitement grew. The closer we got, the stronger the wind and mist became. The sound of the water crashing down was thunderous. Watching the falls rush and tumble from above filled me with awe. The roar of the waves and the mist on my face made me smile.
As the boat returned to the dock, I shook the water from my hair and poncho, grinning from ear to ear. I turned to my grandmother and told her how thankful I was that she brought me. The water made me feel alive at a time when I needed it most. This trip taught me to slow down and appreciate the world that God created. The sky, the air, and especially the water that connects everything. I now understand the beauty St. Francis describes in the canticle of the sun “Praised be you, my lord through Sister who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.” Also “Praised be You, my Lord, through brother wind and through the air, cloud, and serene weather, through which you give sustenance to your creatures”. Finally, “Praised be you, my lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful.” Each of these lines help me remember my trip to Niagara Falls and how that trip opened my eyes to the beauty that surrounds us every day.
Joell Wood
On a sunny nice day, I found myself in the car surrounded by everything an 18 year old teenage boy can want, a beautiful girlfriend in the passenger seat, with a backseat full of my closest friends with plans that should lead us to memories that our future kids will fall asleep hearing. When saint francis says “Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Sun, who brings the day; and You give light through him, and he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor” it represents the feeling of the sunny day as it matched the bright sunny energy coming from our body.
As I drove through the road I have the windows down as wind blew in our face music blasting thinking how could life get much better than this. As we were passing a suburban nature area I see a clear road. I step on the gas and floor it, as I’m zooming through I see a family of deer appear.
In that moment I slam on the brakes as I was inches away from the deer hoping I dont wreck my car. As the car screeched and came to a stop I cursed and cursed at the deer blaming the deer for almost causing a crash. It wasn’t until I seen the baby deer on the side when I realized this deer has a life too. In this moment I realized how often we are ignorant to nature, For me this was just a car ride, for the deer this was him trying to keep his family safe as I was trying to do mine.
I sat and watched as the deer walked by and drove a little slower not because of fear of hitting another deer but to enjoy the smell of trees and birds chirping. I chose to listen to Gods music with the birds chirping and wind blowing, we often neglect this but we also yearn for the connection to nature without even knowing.
