With Beauty Before Me, I Walk

Cathy Maziarz takes a walk where beauty goes before her, behind her, above her, and around her.

I have been walking on a path for the past three months … a path where beauty has gone before me. This beauty is the collective group of women that have penned their hearts onto the pages of Catholic Mom. What an honor to walk behind a group of women so in love with their Lord, so dedicated to their families, so talented in the care of their children, home, husbands, careers, and writing … and so strong in carrying their personal crosses.   

It has been the stories of the crosses that touch my soul at the right time … going before me and leading me to God. My eyes are guided to what my spirit needs to hear; stories that provide me with water when I am in the desert, or a lighthouse when I am out at sea. As I open my laptop and click onto the new email from the Moms, I do not feel alone as I begin another day heaving the beam of wood onto my shoulders … for beauty has gone before me.  

With beauty behind me, I walk.  

We all have a beam of wood that we must choose to pick up every day. Each beam is different, none heavier than the other ... for God gives us what weight we can handle. For some, we share the cross with the Simons close to us, those who help when we have fallen. We may have Veronicas in our life who will wipe our faces; they will clear our eyes so that we can keep the end in sight, knowing that it will all be worth it in the end. We often switch roles, and we become a Simon or a Veronica. I hope that I can be that to others … to the beauty who may walk behind me.  

With beauty above me, I walk.  

As I walk, I tip my head to the sky. I know that God above me is walking with me. He has carried a cross as I have. His promise is penned across the sunrises and sunsets each day. I feel a protective shield over me, a Father’s hands spread over all the earth. I will find joy in the triumphs and sufferings that each day brings … and when I feel my head lower from the weight upon me … I will lift my eyes and I will walk with beauty above me. 

With beauty around me, I walk.  

As I walk, I am surrounded by creation. Creation is the canvas on which God has painted His heart. He has designed and created beauty that reflects His love for us. It is amazing how much thought, science, beauty, and love He puts into a single flower, feather, or strand of hair. He is reflected everywhere … I will be grateful and respect His masterpieces as I will walk in beauty around me.   

Wherever we are in our walk ... I pray that we can walk it ... in beauty … to walk with love, joy, and peace through the gifts and through the crosses.  

Dear Lord,  
May I always walk in beauty.  

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Creation is the canvas on which God has painted His heart. #CatholicMom

Walking in Beauty: Closing Prayer from the Navajo Way Blessing Ceremony 

In beauty, I walk 
With beauty before me, I walk 
With beauty behind me, I walk 
With beauty above me, I walk 
With beauty around me, I walk 
It has become beauty again 
Today I will walk out, today everything negative will leave me 
I will be as I was before, I will have a cool breeze over my body. 
I will have a light body, I will be happy forever, nothing will hinder me. 
I walk with beauty before me. I walk with beauty behind me. 
I walk with beauty above me. 
I walk with beauty around me. My words will be beautiful. 
In beauty all day long may I walk. 
(Prayer taught to me by my Navajo Family) 

Copyright 2023 Cathy Maziarz
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