Last night on PBS, the opening program of Ken Burn's documentary on our National Parks featured the importance of John Muir. Muir, a naturalist, geologist, mountain man, and a man of faith wrote with a compelling and unique perspective about the significance of natural beauty. For Muir the meaning of the natural landscape moved beyond perserving and appreciating beauty. Nature was the place where human beings could locate themselves as creatures part of creation, smaller than God. At the same time human beings can observe God's life in the horizon and feel God's life within our hearts. Muir brought science and faith into one realm where God could be both creator and lover.

Practical Christians locate themselves within creation belonging to the grandeur God creates and feeling that grandeur within our hearts.

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Hello, and welcome to Practically Christian, a weekly reflection on faith, life, and the experience of Christ in our daily lives. The issues will range from faith at work to Christian practices to recent events. Join the community of fellowship as we bring the meaning of Jesus' life into our lives.

This past week was the anniversary of the only escape from Alcatraz. Three men dug, tunnelled, and emerged form the isolation of the prison walls. If they ever reached land through the frigid waters is not known. For some their feat is admired. For some a mystery to be solved.

Any prison is a formittable barrier. It is a metaphor for barriers we may construct in our lives. What are the practical tools of Christian faith that we use break down our barriers. Reflect on these four that we find when we are members of the church community: studying scripture together, learning from experience together, praying together, and, serving together.