Camping and a Conjured Host of Patrons
I went camping last weekend. My brother-in-law and I left on Saturday and went to a nearby place right on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. After about 2 miles of hiking we set up camp. We only stayed one night and hiked/walked around 12 miles over the course of Saturday and Sunday. It was wonderful. We spent time on one of the most amazing and under-populated beaches. I ate responsibly, (almost a requirement since you have to carry everything) got lots of sleep and just generally relaxed. It was the first time that I have been camping in many years and I so want to go again soon. On Saturday night four teenagers invited us to share their campfire on the beach and we had smores, laughed and stared at the stars in a sky with virtually no light pollution. If you have never really camped. I so recommend it. It is beneficial in so many ways. True stillness, quiet, exercise, moderation and time for self-examination are only a few things. The stopwatch mind frame has no place outdoors. You learn and truly understand how little one really needs to be rich. In my case it was about 30 pounds of gear on my back and family.
My pack sits in my office at home next to my desk. The act of breaking camp, gets you ready for your next trip because everything has its place in the pack. It's all organized, efficient. I could go camping with ten minutes of preparation and live fairly comfortably for quite a while with 30 pounds of gear and a little food. It's hard for me to explain. The awareness of the simplicity with which all of your needs can be met gives me pause. The experience is both simple and rich.
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Last night after a few drinks and a movie (the recruit) with Carrie and Frank, I lay in bed and I asked God why we were here, what did it all mean essentially. An answer came to me almost instantly. It occurred to me that we are here to witness the beauty and wonder of all. We had been talking about topics that dealt with mortality earlier in the evening and at the time I was just struck with how truly amazing everything is. That we are here and aware and can see and feel and know. Life. All of it. It is such a wonderful gift just to be here. Maybe that is it. Maybe just being here. It so amazing, I can hardly describe.
I thought about God creating everything. Perhaps we were created not only as part of this wonderful work of art, but as beings that could appreciate it just so that he could share it with someone. A conjured host of patrons in the complete gallery of all. Witnesses to the staggering beauty, we could have been given the gift of being for that reason alone.
An elusive thought keeps darting in and around my awareness. It is that in order for God to give us the ability to truly experience and appreciate his Work, that something else really important was imbued also. Part of God maybe? Some very powerful gift. Like I said, it is elusive. I will think on it as I am granted the ability to do.
Isn't this all so cool?
My pack sits in my office at home next to my desk. The act of breaking camp, gets you ready for your next trip because everything has its place in the pack. It's all organized, efficient. I could go camping with ten minutes of preparation and live fairly comfortably for quite a while with 30 pounds of gear and a little food. It's hard for me to explain. The awareness of the simplicity with which all of your needs can be met gives me pause. The experience is both simple and rich.
---
Last night after a few drinks and a movie (the recruit) with Carrie and Frank, I lay in bed and I asked God why we were here, what did it all mean essentially. An answer came to me almost instantly. It occurred to me that we are here to witness the beauty and wonder of all. We had been talking about topics that dealt with mortality earlier in the evening and at the time I was just struck with how truly amazing everything is. That we are here and aware and can see and feel and know. Life. All of it. It is such a wonderful gift just to be here. Maybe that is it. Maybe just being here. It so amazing, I can hardly describe.
I thought about God creating everything. Perhaps we were created not only as part of this wonderful work of art, but as beings that could appreciate it just so that he could share it with someone. A conjured host of patrons in the complete gallery of all. Witnesses to the staggering beauty, we could have been given the gift of being for that reason alone.
An elusive thought keeps darting in and around my awareness. It is that in order for God to give us the ability to truly experience and appreciate his Work, that something else really important was imbued also. Part of God maybe? Some very powerful gift. Like I said, it is elusive. I will think on it as I am granted the ability to do.
Isn't this all so cool?