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August 24, 2001
I like camping
For those of you that know me, you know that I like camping. Well, I don't just like camping, I love camping. I need camping. I find that I get irritable and depressed if I don't go camping at least every couple months. I know this. But I've been trying to figure out exactly why I like it and need it so much. I think I'm beginning to understand. I'm back at the same place I was sitting last night when I wrote the last entry in here. As I sit here I can see the world as it was made. Here from my little rock/seat I can see creation unmarred by man. I like living in the city. I like having people around. I like the hustle and bustle of every-day life. I like science and invention. I like progress (I am, after all using a nifty little laptop to write this). But none of those things can affect me like this. None of those things can fill me with the peace, contentment, and joy that I get simply by sitting on a rock looking at nature. Here's why (I think). This is as close as I can get to seeing God. Here I can see his creation just as he made it; un-straightened, un-paved, and un-corrupted by man. If ever I question the power, reality, or closeness of God, I only need to go into the woods and I can find him. I don't always go into the woods searching for God, but I always find him there.
8/23/02
Often I think my life is pretty surreal. Right now I'm sitting on a bench beside a crystal clear, mirror-flat lake in northern Minnesota. The far side of the lake is solid fortress of pine trees broken only by occasional outcroppings of rock. In the distance a loon is calling, and the moon is rising behind me. It's beautiful beyond description. The peace of it is broken only by ...a square dance! Really. 200 yards down the lake a big party is holding a square dance. It's a really funny soundtrack to the scene in front of me. But it's kind of par for the course this week. This morning, I was canoeing in the Boundary Waters, 2 days ago I was backpacking with my folks along the north shore of Lake Superior, 3 days before that, I was in Florida celebrating my Grandma's 84th birthday. 3 days before that I was with my brother and sister-in-law while they found out their their new baby will be a girl. 4 days before that I was in Grand Rapids at a friend's wedding. To add to it, I'm leaving for Hungary in 2 days. I can't decide if I'm blessed or insane. Maybe both.
I am looking forward to getting back to Hungary. I feel like I was just getting started last year. I spent a year learning how to teach, getting to know students, orienting myself in Hungarian culture, and I guess ...preparing for this year. So I really looking forward to getting there in a few days.
Posted by neal on August 24, 2001 05:09 PM