Slow down. Breathe deeply. Be in the moment.
The national parks have always called to something deep in you - a hunger for wonder, for stillness, for a moment that feels genuinely alive. But standing at the rim of the Grand Canyon or beneath a cathedral of redwoods, it's easy to feel like you're watching the world rather than belonging to it.
That feeling isn't a failure. It's an invitation.
The National Parks Inspiration Guide was written for travelers who sense there is more to find and want a trusted companion to help them find it. Connecting the rich history and ecology of all sixty-three national parks with carefully crafted reflections, this guide shows you how to move from spectator to participant in one of the greatest landscapes on earth.
Discover what the ancient coastline of Maine can teach you about new beginnings
Find the quiet power of patience in the twisted canyons of Utah
Learn to see your own life as part of something far larger and more beautiful than your daily routine
When you travel with intention, the parks stop being destinations and start being teachers. You return home not just with photographs, but with perspective: a deeper sense of who you are and where you belong in the world.
Your journey of discovery starts here. Bruce Barkhauer teaches generosity for a living. A noted speaker, educator, consultant, and writer, Barkhauer brings creativity, energy, fresh, and sometimes humorous thought into conversations about stewardship as a practice of faith and spiritual discipline.
Barkhauer served as a parish pastor for 25 years before accepting a call to serve as the first Minister for Faith and Giving for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a traditional mainline denomination, headquartered in Indianapolis. He believes that caring for the earth so that it may flourish is a divinely instituted human vocation and that our very lives depend on successfully carrying out this prime-directive to manage our resources well. He is married to Laura, and they share three children and three grandchildren.
Brad Lyons, a transplanted Oklahoman now living in St. Louis, has spent most of his career in religious, government, and scientific non-profits. An award-winning journalist, he has served as president and publisher of CBP/Chalice Press since 2011. Lyons coauthored America's Holy Ground: 61 Faithful Reflections on Our National Parks and America's Sacred Sites: 50 Faithful Reflections on Our National Monuments and Historic Landmarks. Most importantly, he is the extremely lucky and proud father of three very kind, very funny, and very smart kids and is learning to be a good pastor's spouse to his wife, Courtney.
