Today is one year since the release of The Little Way of a Pilgrim.

I wrote it over 3 snowy days by the fire, with the wolf's terrible 'icicle teeth' leaping into the story from the long icicles hanging outside my windows. Had I written it in summer, perhaps the big shaggy dog would have had four-leaf clover paws instead.

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The making of The Little Way of a Pilgrim was truly a joy.

My friend, Helen, woke one morning from a dream, knowing that I should write this children's version of the spiritual classic, The Way of a Pilgrim. Many have come to the Jesus Prayer and the Philokalia through this anonymous 19th-century spiritual classic which recounts the wandering of a pilgrim through the forests of Russia and Ukraine, seeking the way toward ceaseless prayer (yes, Ukraine too! Check a map of the towns he passes through …)

Jane and Amber worked hard from the Ancient Faith editorial team, brilliantly helping me hone in on the essential text, and bring Diana-Elena Popescu in as illustrator, with her warm, colored pencil drawings. I loved this touch, an art medium so available to kids, who I encourage to write and illustrate their own books. And what an honor for Dr Albert Rossi to offer his endorsement. He has inspired my work with his book, Becoming a Healing Presence, and once told me to 'Think Youth' … so I did. He wrote:

Each of us is searching for a treasure, a hidden and alluring treasure to make us happy, peaceful, and filled with joy. The question is, 'What is our treasure?' Is our treasure influence or simply money to buy happiness? This book, The Little Way of a Pilgrim, written for the child, gives a clear and compelling answer to finding the treasure we all seek. The treasure isn't outside of us, beckoning with fleeting delight. Our treasure already lives in our heart to be discovered. We all have a village within ourselves, containing bright Light and dark darkness. Our true treasure is when we are in contact with our best self – the self given to us by God. This book, based on the spiritual classic The Way of a Pilgrim, gives its readers access to the age-old Orthodox tradition of inner prayer – of bringing our mind down into our heart as we pray the Jesus Prayer. This prayer is exquisitely simple and daringly hard. It is a practice that leads us to our best self, the self that leaves the world a better place for our efforts. The LIttle Way of a Pilgrim shows us the map and the way. We need only follow.

– Dr. Albert Rossi, St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary

Myrrhbearing Maiden Leaders

So generous of him to offer these words. The myrrhbearing maidens helped too. For twenty years I have been directing this group of young girls, who toss rose petals onto the tomb of Christ on Holy Friday with their small, white-gloved hands. Then arm-in-arm, they move silently through the still candleless sanctuary to receive the Light at the altar, then light up the world with holy flame – row by row – at Pascha's midnight service.

These girls gather at our small farm each year, after their rehearsal, to share a meal, a spiritual talk, and to run around the barnyard catching chickens and holding baby lambs. In fact, our breeding program is centered on this event, when they have fun naming the lambs and chicks.

Before The Little Way of a Pilgrim was published, these girls helped me with their feedback and ideas following a rough draft reading. So when we built a fairy tale forest just outside our church bookstore, with six-foot evergreen branches, twinkle lights and picnic blankets, the myrrhbearing maidens helped with the book launch, with the reading and offering prizes, prayer ropes and cookies to the attending children. It was a chance for these girls to lead by serving in our parish.

BEING with God: Childlike Hearts

Frederica Mathewes-Green, author of The Jesus Prayer: Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart Toward God spoke these insightful words about the book, "This is a simple, very accessible, introduction to the Jesus Prayer for children, whose childlike hearts are likely to grasp it even better than adults do."

I strive to share simple ways for children and adults to love BEING with God. The intended audience here is children, and their bedtime readers alike. The core message that seemed veiled in the original classic emerged in this story as I kept drilling down to the original author's intent. How can we possibly approach St Paul's enigmatic teaching, which he enthusiastically recommended to four of his beloved church communities … to pray without ceasing? It is the simple practice of BEING with God in our hearts, while keeping God in our thoughts, as we move attentively through each day.

If you look closely, you may notice that both the central message and the illustration of the wise old monk bear a Kallistian resemblance to someone we may know and love…

Thanks for reading 'be still...'! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Q: Have you read the beloved original classic, The Way of a Pilgrim?

Spark: Set an alarm for morning + noon + evening once a week, to practice BEING with God in your heart, while keeping God in your thoughts.

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Build your Resource Library:

The Little Way of a Pilgrim by Jennifer Anna Rich (find it in my etsy store)

The Way of a Pilgrim, Anonymous (find it here)

Becoming a Healing Presence, by Dr Albert Rossi (find it here)

The Jesus Prayer: Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart Toward God, by Frederica Mathewes-Green (find it here)

For more information, visit jenniferannarich.com