Growing older but not up
Growing older but not up
Experience a lifetime spiritual journey, backpacking to the same lakes for almost 50 years.
“Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back into our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth.” — Marianne Williamson As a young man, I had…
“Looks like a little brother to the sun Or mother to the stars at night And here it is and here it comes…” — George Harrison, Here Comes the Moon Passing Phases Wandering Numinous Luna Nearly invisible when new In eternal cycles of reflection Waxing larger not melting away Wildly…
“True action, good and radiant action, does not spring from activity, from busy bustling. It does not spring from industrious hammering. It grows in the solitude of the mountains, it grows on the summits where silence and danger dwell. It grows out of the suffering which you have not yet…
“The campfire is the most important part of camping. It’s far more than just a source of heat or light. It’s the heart of civilization. All other activities revolve around the fire.” — David Lubar Our last day in paradise was spent in individual contemplation; no doubt pondering the veracity…
“Escape from the black cloudthat surrounds you.Then you will see your own lightas radiant as the full moon.” — Rumi We were still close to the autumnal equinox, which promised a little over 12 hours of moon time. This time of year, she chased the sun across the sky the…
“Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical.” — Yogi Berra Night fell quickly in the autumn evening, the shadows not lingering as in summer, but dissolving into blackness before the moonrise. There would be a full moon during our stay, but not tonight, and it was just…
“He who binds himself to a joyDoes the winged life destroy.But he who kisses the joy as it fliesLives in eternity’s sunrise.” — William Blake The summer of 1982 was a perfect time for a manly backpacking trip. No more snot-nosed Boy Scout stuff. Everyone I knew had graduated from…
He is just a boy, timid and skinny; an uncertain acolyte of a godlike landscape.Fearful of his father but still under his wings; he fishes alone as far away as he dares.Sky painting, lake slap-lapping on rocks, sun sparkling off the surface like a hundred thousand flashbulbs in a stadium,…
“I wanted only to try and live in accord with the promptings which came from my true self. Why was that so very difficult?” — Hermann Hesse As we all had gone to bed early from exhaustion, we were up early the next chilly morning. With my legs numb from…
“When life gets tangled there’s something so reassuring about climbing a mountain. The challenge is unambiguous.” — Stacy Allison Our alternative explorations around the shore of the lake only whetted our appetites for more ambitious adventures the next day. Chris and I had regaled the group around the campfire…
“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk on water or in thin air, but to walk on the earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white…
“We forget that nature itself is one vast miracle transcending the reality of night and nothingness. We forget that each one of us in his personal life repeats that miracle.” — Loren Eiseley Word was spreading like wildfire about Little Bear Lake. Chris and I couldn’t wait to go again,…
“We’re just a couple of crazy rascals out to have some fun.” — Chip & Dale I awoke hungry, as usual. The hunger never ceased. I uncurled myself from a ball and stretched until my fur bristled; a luxurious release from the tips of my whiskers to the tip of my…
“What is above knows what is below. What is below does not know what is above. While climbing, take note of all the difficulties along your path. During the descent, you will no longer see them, but you will know they are there if you have observed carefully.” — René…
“When we’re quiet and alone in the wilds, a force surfaces from deep in our bones, moving us toward something right, something good.” — Brooke Williams After lunch we split up to enjoy the solitude and solace of Little Bear Lake on our own. In keeping with the theme…
“The earth is all that lasts.The earth is what I speak to whenI do not understand my lifeNor why I am not heard.The earth answers me with the same songThat it sang for my fathers whenTheir tears covered up the sun.The earth sings a song of gladness.The earth sings a…