Spending time in nature has been shown to have therapeutic affects. I certainly have felt a feeling of bliss when camping. This past camping trip that I took in September was definitely the most challenging camping experience I have ever had, and yet, I still noticed a calm within myself on the way back to civilization.
Our camping destination, Goshen Pass, was unfamiliar to all of us. We had seen some images on Google, and assumed that it would be a easy hike. We were definitely surprised to find that we would not be able to cross the stream via the bridge when we arrived. This set back did not turn us away, however. We decided to cross the river by foot with all of our supplies on our backs. I found this the most difficult. I repeatedly fell and splashed, slipping on rock after rock. I carried more than I should have, and tried to cross faster than I should have. I had never done anything like this before. It was both exhilarating and terrifying all at once. Once we crossed the river, it was a long way up to a reasonable campsite. We followed an overgrown path, but a path nonetheless. We trekked up the side of the mountain, climbing over fallen limbs, trying not to drop anything until we reached a cliff with smooth slabs of rock. This was the spot. I was initially intimidated by drop off, but this was the best it was gonna get, and we had come too far to turn around. The night was definitely one to remember.
On this trip, I had to rely on my own smarts and my own strength to get me across that stream and up that mountain. I felt strong. I felt centered. I felt God's presence in that woods. I felt truly in the present, which is something that I struggle with. Normally, I worry about the past, or what's to come in the future, but at that moment in the woods on that cliff, I let all of that worry fade away.
No comments:
Post a Comment