Mothers and sons rarely find a project about which they can both be passionate, yet Susanne Hassell and her son Paul have done that very thing, collaborating on Pilgrim Walk in the Woods, a "field guide" for those seeking to explore the spiritual side of nature.
Pilgrim Walk has been in the making for over a decade. A nature-lover, Susanne has always enjoyed hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains, but only after formalizing Holy Paths, Inc., as a non-profit in 2006 did she begin doing something simple, yet profound: she invited people on "pilgrim walks," where they spent more time observing than talking.
Some of the walks were short. Some of them were long. But all of them shared a common purpose: to notice nature's gifts, such as a fallen leaf or a periwinkle butterfly, and find spiritual reminders in them. These quiet exercises seemed to strike a powerful chord with Susanne's friends and supporters, and they started asking her to write a book, or field guide, that they could use to re-create the experience on their own.
While working on her Doctorate of Ministry at San Francisco Theological Seminary, Susanne realized she was really on to something. A professor invited her to lead her colleagues on a pilgrim walk, and the response was overwhelming. Over the following weeks and months, the emails kept coming in: "Is Pilgrim Walk finished?" "When can I buy a copy?" "I want that book!" Susanne followed these nudges, then asked her youngest son Paul, a professional outdoor photographer, to enhance the book with his photographs.
The result is a beautiful, practical book for growing closer to God through His creation.
"I don't want Pilgrim Walk to gather dust on a coffee table," Susanne said. "It is intended to be a thoughtful guide that people can carry in a pocket or backpack, and take into the woods or even their backyards." In other words, Pilgrim Walk in the Woods just begs to be used.
Susanne and her son Paul have given a priceless gift to anyone and everyone who wishes to "tase and see" the glory and goodness of our Creator. Pilgrim Walk in the Woods is an invitation to enter the living cathedral of creation -- to see, hear, tase, smell, and touch God's grace everywhyere around us and deep within.
All proceeds go to support the non-profit ministries of Holy Paths.