My favorite place to pray is the forest near my house where I walk my dog. I think it's the perfect place to pray because I have nothing on my mind, and I'm calm and peaceful.
In a forest, I never feel like I have to hurry. I am never rushed. I just have the feeling that it will always be there. I never feel like I'm in trouble or danger. I don't have to worry about handing in my religion essay or taking out the trash. I just keep walking, thinking and, many times, praying.
In a forest, you can enjoy God's gifts to men. I think the forest is one of the greatest works of art on earth. What makes it even better is that it is always changing; some trees are dying while others are growing. I think God really spoiled man when He gave us forests. They are beautiful in many ways. The sun shining through the trees remind me of the stained glass windows in a church. I like the way the moss finds a way to grow against all odds.
The forest can be compared to a beautiful church, eve though it has no priests or Masses. Its choir is the squirrels breaking branches overhead and the birds singing. They are the natural music of this peaceful parish. Instead of parishioners, there are rabbits, birds and deer. The organ music is the wind, playing a gentle rhythm to keep the beat of nature. Instead of an aisle, there is a trail to follow that helps me enjoy this wonderful church. Like other churches, it is a quiet place to pray where I can thank God for all He has done for us.
When I am walking in a forest, I like life because it is so simple. I feel like I could stay forever in this calm, tranquil place.
I believe that the forest is the perfect atmosphere for praying and communicating with God. It is like a church but one in which you can see firsthand the workings of God. The music is natural. The setting is quiet, serene and generally peaceful. I think it is the perfect place to pray.
(Timothy Murphy is a 13-year-old student at St. Pius X School in Loudonville, where he is also a parishioner. He is a winner of this year's teen essay contest, sponsored by The Evangelist. Teens were asked to describe their favorite place to pray. Five winners, selected from the hundreds of entries, appear in this special teen issue.)