The Lion's Bridge Part 2

Although the Lion's Bridge had many beautiful sights and was a very calming place, but I did not feel that there was much of a spiritual aspect to this trail. I didn't get the chance to go through the entire trail, but for the most part it just seemed like a good place to come and chill. I do not personally feel that this place has a spiritual meaning, but I do believe that someone could have a spiritual experience  here. 

I think that the one thing that stuck out to me the most was the bridge that we went over halfway through the trail, because it had the best view of the water and trees. If I were to visit there often I would always go there because that is the most calming and beautiful spot on the trail. There were many other things on the trail that were pretty as well, but nothing compared to the bridge. I would suggest visiting here to anyone that wishes to go for or a short walk, looking for nice views, or maybe even trying to find a spiritual place or experience. 

Phenomenology of Prayer #2

In this text, Martin Heidegger is cited as stating in reference to phenomenology that history is understood as a meaningful expression of life, not as dry facts. This really resonates with me. History is far too often thought of a laundry list of dates. History tells the story of actual lives that have been experienced, and I think that is exciting and beautiful. This is the reason that I have chose history as a major, and will likely dedicate my life to research and learning about people and past experiences so that we may learn and grow from others. Life can be thought of in this spiritless way as well, if we are not careful and insightful.

Outside Reading: Are thru hikers just one big cult?

To be honest, I first clicked on this article because it had the word Cult in the title (I am fascinated with learning about cults), but after reading it, I realized it had nothing to do with cults at all hahaha. I am guilty of using the word cult in a negative connotation, but if you really think about it, the word cult can also be positive if it is a positive, healthy way. Thru hikers for example, can be considered a "cult" because it is their specific hobby that is not a norm for the average person. This shows that cults don't have to be creepy religious groups, it can be a healthy group that shares the same healthy passion.

Other than the cult rant, the article shares a lot about how you are saving money. For 6 months you are only spending about 6000 dollars on food for the entire hike, which is significantly less than a person spends if they are home going out to eat or buying tons of groceries. Also something that stuck out to me was where it said thru hiking rates have spiked tremendously in the past few years, especially on the Pacific Crest Trail. My favorite part of the article is where the writer says he believes every person should be given a 6 month leave at any point of their working career for their mental health. I agree 100% because people can really lose their sanity working a 9 to 5 everyday until they're old without a long break to focus on themselves.

Article: http://www.thetrailmaster.com/tales/cult-of-the-thru-hiker/

Lion's Bridge #2

I believe that the Lion's Bridge can provide a small spiritual journey for some people, but I feel that it more provides a get away from reality in my personal opinion. Although I have never been on a long-distance hike, I feel as though they have more spiritual aspects to the than short trails that you can walk just to clear your mind or for exercise purposes. I have only been to the Lion's Bridge one time and I think that it is a beautiful place where I would be able to sit and maybe do some homework while there are perfect, peaceful views all around me. I also feel that this would be a good place to go if I were having an off or bad day because it provides a sense of positivity.

My Choice #1: Camping

Unfortunately I have never gotten the chance to take a long-distance hike, but I have gotten the chance to go camping. When I was in the seventh grade, my mom decided to send me to a camp called Adventure Links Camp. At first I didn't want to go because it was a camp I had never been to before and I wasn't sure how it go. As we got to the campsite, I saw a few other kids packing their things int a blue school bus. As I got checked in, I started talking to this girl named Morgan, and sure enough we became best friends. As the camp day started, we first learned how to set up our tents because this was what we would be sleeping in for a week. Once we did that we did a few icebreakers and got to know each other, and since there was only ten of us it was fairly easy. Next it was time to make dinner. I blame this camp for the reason that I hate powdered food. Everything that we had to eat was powdered because we didn't have enough room in the bus to bring any other kinds of food besides sandwiches. As the week went on we travelled from northern Virginia, to Pennsylvania, to West Virginia and back. The ten of us lived out of an old blue school bus along with three adult counselors that were there to take care of us. I learned a lot about myself at this camp and I also learned how grateful I am to have the things that I do.

Outside Reading: Personal Benefits of Hiking

11/30/2016

The most important thing I took from this article states, " “Hiking exercises your body and your mind, and nourishes your imagination,”  (Ignacio Malpica) which sums up this entire class for me. I always thought of hiking as a way to lose weight or gain strength  but now I know you can also use it for mental health, spirituality, and a way to gain relationships. 

Other than that statement, the article brings up so many health benefits from hiking for adults and children including longer life span, better bones, better blood sugar and cholesterol  and less of a chance of being overweight. 

While the physical health benefits of hiking are awesome, I think it is very important to also note how much it can help your emotional and mental state along with your personal life. Hiking is so beneficial for anyone of any age. 

Article: http://www.goodhiker.com/2011/05/25/health-benefits-hiking/

Nature: Class Fieldtrip to Lion's Bridge

11/30/2016
Kip really helped me think more in depth about the nature around me, rather than just thinking it is "pretty". My favorite part of the fieldtrip was when we crowded around a fallen branch that was completely died up, and we all gave our opinion of which tree it used to be apart of and why it was so dried up. We talked about how even trees have ways of communicating with each other and are alive in that sense. We as people tend to put humans above everything else in the world, but at the end of the day everything on Earth is important, including animals and nature. I enjoyed taking time out of the trip to talk about something dead, that I would have completely disregarded if not otherwise brought to my attention.

I also saw trees that were wrapped with vines. The vine is considered an invasive plant to the native plant which is the tree itself. We really don't know if the vine is negatively intruding on the trees well being or if they are working in unison together, but it is interesting to notice parts of nature that aren't meant to be in a certain place somehow end up finding it's home with another part of nature.

The last thing that really caught my eye was how different all the tree trunk textures were. Of course I know that there are thousands of different types of trees in this world, but it was cool to see how many different trees can be in one location. Just walking 10 feet, you could find a tree trunk pattern that was completely different than the one before. I tend to only notice leaves on trees differing, not trunk textures.

I opened my eyes to so many things on the trail that I usually take for granted. I actually paid attention to fine detail rather than the big picture. I hope to look for detail in all paths of life I stumble upon from now on.

Personal Experience: Nolan Trail Walks

11/30/2016

Like I said in a past blogpost, I steer clear of the outdoors as much as possible, but last year I really found spiritual peace in walking the Nolan Trail a few times a week. Last year I was going through a lot of personal issues, and once I found out about the Nolan Trail, I used it as an outlet all the time. I would take my dog with me so she can exercise, but it was nice to have a companion with me (like the women that took her dog on the Appalachian Trail that we learned about). I would only walk about 4 miles a day on the trail, 2 miles in and two miles back to my car, but it was always something I looked forward to. There were always turtles under the bridges and the most beautiful sunsets reflecting on the water, I felt a spiritual connection with nature, which is something I have never felt before. The only thing I dislike about the Nolan Trail is the face that I always trip on roots and twist my ankle, but its a chance I'm willing to take. I hope as a grow up and live in different places, I can find places like the Nolan Trail that better my life.

Landscapes of the Sacred #2

The author goes on to discuss the nature of sacred places. They are described as "messy" and "ambiguous." I think that is spot on, especially when taking in to consideration the axioms that are detailed throughout the text. If a sacred space is an ordinary place that becomes extraordinary, is it not then ambiguous? If the sacred place is the storied space, are those stories up for debate? Can and should one derive their own meaning and conclusions from said stories? If one happens upon the sacred space having not heard the stories centered around it, is the place still sacred? Will they experience the place as simply a topos and never a chora? I think the answer to that is ambiguous, deeply depending on whether you subscribe to the idea that the sacred place has meaning because we ascribe meaning to it, or the opposing idea that the place is sacred because it somehow acts as a thresh hold to supernatural forces inherently.

Nature Post: Sisterhood Retreat Experience

My sorority Delta Gamma went on a sisterhood retreat in October to a camp site where we basically spent the entire time together and experienced nature together (I don't like the outdoors) and it was a monumental experience in my college career thus far. I almost never choose the outdoors over the indoors. Even with working out, I prefer running on the treadmill rather than running on a trail. I think it has to do with severely hating extreme weather conditions. I like to be in control of the temperature I am in, which is not possible outdoors. At retreat, it was FREEZING outside. I barely slept through the night because I was shaking so much. I was happy that I got out of my comfort zone and experienced nature for a full day and night, but the most impactful part of the retreat was the connections I made with sisters.

Hikers on a thru hike make deep connections with the other hikers on the trail because they are all experiencing the same conditions and experiences. This is very similar to my experience at the retreat, because my chapter is so large, that I don't have deep connections with many of my sisters, but all of us going through the same experiences drew us closer together. The act of putting yourself out there and doing something you don't normally do is such a beneficial decision because it gives you opportunities to connect with people you usually wouldn't have connected with.

Personal Topic: Prayer Blog #13

Courtney Botkin

11-30-16

Blog #13

Personal Topic

Verses about Prayer

           

            In the Bible, there are numerous verses indicating that God wants us to pray to Him regularly for any and every reason. In 1 John 5:16, it says, “If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.” The Lord is encouraging us to take up our faith in Him and lean on Him. He does, of course, already know what you are going to talk to Him about and ultimately what will come out of the situation, but that does not mean you should not ask and talk to Him. He wants us to learn on Him in any and every single situation. He wants to see us succeed and live a happy and fulfilling life. In Philippians 4:6-7, the Word says, “Do not worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” The Lord wants us to know that He is here for us and His love endures forever. He is all powerful and will come to the rescue when we call on Him. As we have continued to look into spiritual journeys, I am amazed at the ability and drive people have to complete this goal of thru-hiking. I began to think I could never do it and would not make it far before I gave up. That is when Philippians 4:13 came to my head and the Lord was telling me that if I really wanted to do it, I could accomplish this goal through Him. I have, therefore, left it at I can do anything I set my mind to with the help of the Lord, as long as I am praying and in conversation with Him constantly. 

Landscapes of the Sacred #1

On page three, the narrator speaks about climbing the mountain to escape his thoughts and his daily life as a teacher. I have noticed that many hikers follow the trail to escape their mundane daily lives. Almost all hikers hike as a way to find their flow, and relieve themselves of worry about day to day functions and harassing thoughts. As the text explains, places mold one's personality; "landscape is a connector of the soul with the being." Further, the text cites a term meaning person, "daesein," or otherwise translated as "being there." This term directly correlates the very existence of a human being as being intrinsically attached to where that human being is geographically. I found that to be very enlightening. I would definitely agree that every place that I have been in, whether it be for a few days, or even years, has had a significant impact on me. I would say that my hometown has shaped me, just as much as being physically here at CNU surrounded by this environment and these people who share it with me.

Outside Reading #1: Brain Rules ch.1 Exercise

For one of my bio courses, we discuss neuroscience. In his book Brain Rules, John Medina explains the science of exercise from the perspective of what it does for the brain. Upon completing this reading, I thought about hiking and what they must experience physically. There is no debate about the face that exercise increases dopamine and endorphins in human beings. Long distance hikers put their bodies through incredible strain. It is not uncommon for through hikers to confess a feeling of serenity while out on the trail. It is entirely possible that the mere act of walking on the trail instills a sincere euphoria. The trail might present hardship and struggle, but overall, the workout that hikers must receive likely gives uplifts them in amazing ways, not only mentally, but also spiritually.

Phenomenology of Prayer #1

Disinterested delight, doing a deed without expecting something in return or a reward, can be thought of in terms of prayer, but also in life. A religious person should absolutely pray and have a relationship with their lord for the sake of having the relationship. I also believe that in general, we as good human beings in the world should make a point of having the communitas state of mind, and be more generous in life for the sake of doing a good deed and lifting someone else up. I have personally strived to incorporate this habit into my own life. I especially have assumed the idea of disinterested delight in my sorority by lending out my personal belongings when sisters are in need, taking the initiative to remind and encourage sisters with academic work, and being there in their time of need. It can be hard to maintain this mindset, however, when time and time again no one has reciprocated actions towards me and my well being. But the real feat is overcoming this disappointment and discouragement, because only once one has stopped expecting can one became happy and content.

Phenomenology of Prayer: Prayer as Kenosis

11/29/2016

I feel very connected to the topic of this chapter because I wrote a personal blog post on my views of public vs private prayer, just like this chapter talked about. Other than talking about public and private prayer, it speaks on only talking to God when we need something, which I was guilty of in the past. Before I practiced religion as a personal interest rather than going to church because my parents told me to as a child, has changed my outlook on my relationship with God tremendously. As a kid, I would pray every night for my family, but then get completely side tracked and just pray for a boy to like me or to get a materialistic thing that I desired (typical little kid stuff). Now that I am older and have made religion an important part of my life, praying is so much more than asking for materialistic things. It is about having a true connection with the Lord and feeling his presence in your every day life. Rather than the superficial prayer before bed, I make my relationship with God a more regular part of my every day life.

The subheading "What Should We Pray For" really sums up what I am feeling while writing this post. During my transition to childhood religion to young adult religious practice, it was always a struggle for me to know what I should pray for and what is worthy of me to take up God's time with. Now I feel like I am in a smooth rhythm where I communicate with God rather than ask for things from him.

Personal Experience: Public Church Services compared to Private Bible Practice

I have always preferred intimate and personal practices of religion and spirituality compared to public church services. Not only does my anxiety steer me away from large church services, but I tend to feel like I learn more and get more out of my practice if I am in a small bible study group. I prefer it because I can ask questions, give my opinions, and have genuine conversations with the people around me. Church services feel more like a lecture style college class, which I definitely am not fond of. I get so overwhelmed and anxious which the situation around me, that I have trouble getting anything out of the service.

A thru hikers personal experience on the trail can be related to my preference of small bible studies, because you are taken out of the large crowd of society and have more intimate experiences with the few people around you on your trail, and more personal time with yourself to reflect on your personal spiritual journey.

Image and Pilgrimage Chapter 5 thoughts on intellectual visions vs apparitions

11/29/2016

Intellectual visions, like feeling God through physical items or locations is much more prominent for the everyday person compared to apparitions and seeing God through spirit form. In my life, I feel God around me when I am in certain places or in certain situations, but not have come in contact with actual spirits. I wonder if spirits were more easily accessible in the medieval times compared to modern society, because our culture and way of life has been so warped over time. We do not give ourselves enough time to meditate in our thoughts and prayer every day because of the constant distractions of every day life. Where in medieval times I feel as if it might have been more of a norm to put prayer and practice at the top of one's priority list which made their connections to apparitions more often. Maybe if we all made prayer and alone time without technology or distractions more seriously, our connection to apparitions would be more prominent than what the average person experiences today.

Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture Chapter 1

11/29/2016

Liminality seems to be a phase that everyone goes through during a pilgrimage or thru hike. The transitional phase from everyday society to long distance hiking is something that would be overwhelming for anyone, but with the help of other hikers and tail angels, long distance hiking is very doable and a rewarding experience. I like to think of liminality as going thru "culture shock" but in a more healthy way. Leaving technology, transportation, family, friends, luxury foods, and normal sanitation lifestyles is tough for many people to fathom, but once a hiker goes through the liminality phase, the lifestyle becomes second nature. I find it fascinating that once thru hikers are done with their hike, they are so used to the lifestyle that going back to regular society seems almost unappealing. I suppose you can compare this to a tropical vacation; you get so used to the relaxed lifestyle that you don't want to go back to your normal life. Granted, thru hiking is much more strenuous than a tropical vacation, but once the flow becomes second nature, it can be a very relaxing experience. 

Blog #12: Personal Topic, Reflecting on Noland Trail and God's Creations

Courtney Botkin

Blog #12

11-29-16

Personal Topic

            As I was reading through the Bible, I came across this verse interesting verse in Job. Once I read it, I could not help but smile at the fact that the Lord had me read this a few days after we had gone to the Lions Bridge and went on the nature walk as a class. The verse found in Job 12:7-10 read, “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” After I read this, all I could think about was His beautiful creations that we encountered just in the short amount of time while being on the Noland Trail. After we had walked on the trail, I walked down to the water and sat on the rocks for some time. I love everything about the beach and ocean. I could sit on the beach and watch the waves go in and out all day. I am fascinated by seashells and how delicate and intricate they can be. In other words, after I sat down on the boulders at the water, I was so intrigued by the beauty that God has created and put in this world for us to experience and enjoy. Sitting there listening to the waves crash against the rocks, I was in awe of His presence and began thinking back to all of the things we had seen on the hike and everything that I noticed or may not have noticed while we were walking. While Dr. Redick pointed out a few trees that looked deteriorated and dead, there were many things that were beautiful in themselves, yet I have never taken the time to appreciate them until Dr. Redick commented on these different things and God laid it on my heart that through Him all things are whole and lovely.

Personal Choice - Blog #1

Waking up at 4:30 in the morning three times a week is never a simple task. Half asleep, I have to force myself to get out of bed and get dressed. Every morning is the same, taking the long hike across campus in my groggy state just to get in a car and drive twenty minutes to where we practice. The darkness envelops the sky as we drive to our destination, the sun still asleep and me, wishing I was as well. This practice started out like any other, working together to carry our heavy boats from the boat house to the shimmering, still water. The weight on my shoulders sometimes unbearable. After coach assigns us our boats we lock our ores in place and hit the water. As I climb into the boat, steadying myself I soak in the cool, musky air. As we set off the sun is still hidden, the moon being the only light illuminating our path. We start to row, at first the pace is steady, slow, our ores skimming the water before diving in, pushing us forward. My breaths became deeper as we pushed harder and faster, my muscles losing strength the harder I pushed. We went in circles for a while, turning around to stay in between the two bridges that towered over the ends of the river. Eventually we ventured in between the farthest bridge from the dock, keeping a steady pace to refrain from hitting anything. A dim light peaked over the horizon and I longed for the suns light on my path. As we cleared the bridge a dense fog surrounded us, making it difficult for us to see the way we were going. As the fog grew thicker we decided that it was unsafe and we headed back to the dock. Before we made our return to the dock we sat for a moment in the fog. I watched as the sun rose slowly in the sky, I could make out the outline of a herring perched on a bare tree emerging from the water. The sun framed its outline with its bright orange color. The sight was breathtaking, the bird sitting their motionless. I wished I had something I could use to take a picture, instead I watched, transfixed, soaking it all in. In that moment I felt the vastness of God's creation, surrounding me. I felt a spiritual change in me as I could not look away from the beauty of nature right in front of me. I experience that same sunrise three days a week, every week, but it might never feel the same as it did that day, thats the beauty of a sacred experience.

Ashley Irving: Outside Reading #3

“When man lets it have its way, the relentlessly growing It-world grows over him like weeds, his own I loses it actuality, until the incubus over him and the phantom inside him exchange the whispered confession of their need for redemption.”

I don't think people realize how true this statement actually is. The It-world is the materialistic, impersonal society that we all live in. It is purely focused on relationships that something can be gained from. It is goal oriented and result driven. In this excerpt from Martin Buber, he discusses that when one loses touch with their inner selves, their "I", they allow the It-world to take over and they lose all the personal connections and desires that they have.

Once the It-world encompasses a man, the man's project is lost and society's project takes it's place. The It-world is selfish and due to its goal driven nature it makes man become more harsh and crude than his typical personality allows him. This newfound behavior that makes man strive to reach the goals that society tells him are necessary to meet whether they are necessary to complete their original project or not, makes man behave in ways they would not have even thought of before. This is what Martin Buber is describing when he states, "...the whispered confession of their need for redemption".

This desire for "redemption" can and must be avoided by not allowing ones project to fall in line with that of society. One must remain unique in their personal relationships and in their spirituality otherwise the fate of humanity stands no chance against the greed of the It-world. Do not "let it have its way".