There should be times in our lives when we stand in awe of the wonders that are before us. The brilliantly quiet sunset, a mist over the mountains or the crashing of the waves on shore all proclaim the wild beauty of our outdoors. Untamed and unbounded, the natural world stands as a testament to the Glory of God, the creator of all that is.
The delicate balance of nature provides us with just a glimpse of the glory and power that created it. All things work together and there is an intricate plan constantly unfolding for those who seek it and willing to acknowledge it. The seasons conduct the natural symphony as the story of life is enacted throughout the fabric of time.
We are just a moment in that fabric, a vapor, a divine spark, but oh the wonders that can be seen in that moment. Sunrises over the Grand Canyon, elk bugling in the Tetons, wind whispering through the pines and the catch in your breath when a cougar appears in the mist and then is gone. The fleeting moment of memories made with those that matter most are shadows in our older days but serve to sustain us until we meet that power face to face.
The innocence of wildflowers on the prairie, the might of a grizzly, a thunderstorm across the plains and the unsure steps of a newborn antelope are powerful images to behold first hand and cannot be described to those who will not venture out into the wild. Those who choose not to take part are missing the very nature of mankind and our role in the natural world.
Sitting alone on a mountainside can do wonders for the soul and can quiet the inner noise and turmoil until the sound of a mountain stream is all that can be heard, flooding your spirit with healing waters. Feeling the rumble of geysers in Yellowstone and the awesome, majestic strength of a waterfall can awaken and revive the fiber of your being. It serves to sooth the conscience and brings all things into prospective and focus.
The crackling of a campfire can stir memories long forgotten, like burning embers and can give you a feeling of connection to those who stared at the same fire in years gone by. The moment in your sleeping bag just before dreams find you, as you are being sung to by nature is priceless, and cannot be bought or sold or traded.
The wonder of a child as they hold up their first fish, the joy of a successful hunt, and the whitetail to show off are points in time that seal lifelong bonds and solidify relationships far beyond the years.
Modern life is such fast paced that most of the wonders of the outdoors are missed or just ignored for greater gain. The pursuit of riches has drowned out the hum of the bee or the cry of the hawk or the soft, gentle wing beats of the owl, but to those who look for those things, those who pay attention, are rewarded with riches far above money. There are riches far above gain in the wild, because no amount of money can connect your spirit to the network of nature. Experience is the only teacher here, the only textbook, the only mentor.
We are born with the innate longing to be part of the natural world. We have the instinct to touch, taste and experience nature first hand. We are born with the spirit of the wild, to want to know what lies beyond the hill or around the bend of a river. There are those of us who cannot do without the recharge of the soul on a regular basis. We cannot be denied the feeling of being alone in a sea of grass or paddling a canoe through the rapids or gazing at the myriad of stars on a chilly fall night or simply sit in wonder of a meteor shower. All these things and a million more can be experienced, shared and remembered if you have a life lived outdoors.