There is a hike in Hungry Mother State Park that is both incredibly strenuous and spectacular. Molly’s Knob is only four miles round trip, with the first two miles going straight up a mountain and the last two coming straight back down. Located just outside of Marion in the southwestern portion of our great Commonwealth, it’s regarded as one of the best hikes in the state.
Last summer, my family decided to tackle this hike on the Fourth of July. As we headed out on the trail, my wife and I quickly discovered that not only would the trek test our hiking skills as a family, but it would also test our ability as parents to move five children up a mountain. Between gummy bears, water breaks, a hiking backpack for the youngest, and a steady stream of encouragement, we steadily made our way to the top.
And the view from up there was amazing. Breathtaking. Awe-inspiring. Worth it.
As we emerged from the trees to the small clearing at the top, my four-year-old daughter could only say, “Whoa!” We had the summit to ourselves, and nearly all of us were moved by the mountains and valleys that filled our vision. Nature and views like this have always led me to think of God and his love for us.
Beauty, whether natural like the view from Molly’s Knob or manmade, is one of three characteristics called transcendentals: truth, beauty, and goodness. Peter Kreeft, a Catholic professor and philosopher, calls them “food for the soul.” They lift our hearts to the Lord. And they are incredible tools of evangelization.
Earlier this year, I had a conversation with a young adult who mentioned being surprised by the beauty of one of our parishes in Norfolk. From the outside, the parish was unassuming, but the inside was amazing. He mentioned that he and other young Catholics are drawn to things that are beautiful – that they can be inspiring and lead to feelings of home, peace, or wonder.
I’m also struck by the power that truth plays in people’s lives. There are some people who fall in love with the Church because of the logic and reason they find in our theological explanations. There are others who experience truth after they have believed lies about themselves for years. The truth that they are loved and cared for can change hearts in a powerful way.
For people who have fallen away from the Catholic Church or have never encountered it, the transcendentals can serve as an open door to the faith. They might be reluctant to attend Mass, but their heart might be stirred by goodness. In a practical sense, goodness can look like serving the poor, beauty can be a piece of artwork, and truth might be a YouTube video or podcast.
Bishop Robert Barron uses baseball as an analogy for utilizing beauty to help people come to know Jesus. He says that you shouldn’t start with rules, but rather take someone to a baseball game where they can experience the joy of sitting in the stands on a lovely summer day. There will be time for explaining what a ground rule double is, but start with the beauty of the game. Lead with beauty.
The amazing thing is that we can encounter the transcendentals in moments or in means that are not even outwardly Catholic – like a song lyric or book that when you hear it or finish it, you realize that it has somehow turned your heart to the Lord. These are subtle ways that the Lord can make us receptive to his voice and to his desire for closeness with us.
The next series of Everyday Evangelization columns will focus on each of the transcendentals. We’ll look at truth, beauty and goodness, and bring up things in everyday life that have stirred us toward God – books, movies, songs.
We invite you to reflect on what might provide food for your soul, what draws you closer to God, what makes you say, “Whoa.” God is calling each of us closer to him. Let’s keep our eyes open to encounter him all around us.
Andrew Waring has worked for the Diocese of Richmond since 2011 and has served as director of the Office for Evangelization since 2020. He is a graduate of James Madison University (B.A. in History) and Fordham University (M.A. in Religious Education). Andrew, his wife and their five kids attend St. Bridget, Richmond.