Faith and Nature

Archive for the ‘hiking’ Category

Sometimes the signs along the journey of life leave room for interpretation. Here’s a trail marker which normally points to the direction for hikers, but it has come off of it’s anchor and my daughter Amy has it pointing in a new direction. A reminder that perhaps one greater than us is at work here, but I’d prefer to feel the presence of the creator through the creation rather than the clouds. We found this sign along a trail on Ring Mountain,  a small nature preserve on the Tiburon peninsula.  What makes Ring Mountain special in my mind is that you can feel a sense of peace and solitude in nature while being surrounded by the bustling urban life of the Bay Area. From the top you have a view of San Francisco to the North, Mount Tamalpais to the South, and Mount Diablo to the Southeast.  The soils of Ring Mountain also make the location unique.  Rocks such as blue schist and green schist, and serpentine, discourage many of the local native plants and give rise to some unique plants such as the Tiburon Mariposa Lily which is only found in this preserve. Since we would occasionally visit the preserve on family hikes when our kids were small it’s fun to come back and reminisce about visiting the preserve in years past. More photos of the preserve are available here.

The day after Thanksgiving found us hiking on Angel Island. It was a blustery day, with the threat of rain showers as dark clouds drifted by the island. We felt a few drops but were spared the rain. We hiked the North Ridge trail to the top of the Island, Mount Livermore, which gives one a 360 degree panoramic view of the Bay Area. Angel Island is an island of peace and solitude surrounded by cities, San Francisco to the Southwest, Oakland and Berkeley to the East, Sausalito and Tiburon to the Northwest. We hiked through ferns and mossy oak woodlands on the Ridge Trail, returning through chaparral and the recent burn on the Sunset Trail. It was a good way to work of some of the extra calories from Thursday’s feast. It was also good to be reminded that one doesn’t have to travel far to find peace and solitude in the busy Bay Area. You can view more photos here.

While many people are settling down for dinner, I’m inclined to go outdoors and see what nature has to offer. I’m on a week long jaunt along the Eastern Sierra, and earlier this week I found myself hiking up a trail into the Sierra in the late afternoon. I had the trail to myself, the day hikers had returned from the days outing and the over-night backpackers were presumably already making camp deeper in the mountains. With the sun gone over the crest of the mountains the soft glow of skylight turns the mountains into magic and I find the feast of colors and soft tones speak exuberantly of  the creation.

Contemplating Creation

On a recent hike in the High Sierra we chanced to come across this meadow which simply demanded that we slow down, and contemplate creation. There’s much to learn from simply taking a rest in a spot that has been untrammeled by the demands of our culture on time and resources. On the drive back through Yosemite I ran across this quote from Aldo Leopold which I think is appropriate:

… a land ethic changes the role of homo sapiens from conquerors of the land community to plain members and citizens of it. It implies respect for its fellow members, and also respect for the community as such

It’s Sunday, a day when I normally take refuge from work.  Joann is down with a bad cold, and since I have obligations at church for the evening service, I have the morning to myself. Hershey, our dog is in need some free time, or perhaps he’s just reflecting my alter ego.  I suggest to him that we go for a walk in Tilden Park, and that perks him up. He’s wagging his tail, toungue haning out, and pawing me to get out the door.

We head for the Quarry parking area, and then for the loop trail to Big Springs and back. The hills are still green, the sky is blue, and it’s a glorious morning for a walk.

I find that as I walk in nature the anxieties and concerns of everyday life seem to drift away. Even if I’m sitting at home, there’s a sort of static of unfinished household chores that I have in the back of my mind; the front door needs paint, the broken window in the office, the weeds in the garden, the list goes on.  All of these, plus the challenge of maintaining a cash flow in the slow economy is a real test of my faith.

I pass a grassy meadow, and I can’t resist just romping through the thigh-high grass and they finding a spot to lay down and watch the sky.  Normally, I’d tell myself some story, like the threat of ticks crawling over me, or the idea that grown men don’t lie down in the greass. Today though I seem to have a light heart and a fee mind, so I enjoy a few moments, like a kid, just laying in the grass.

When I return home I feel completely renewed and refreshed. Walking in nature, for me, is like hitting the reset button on the computer.  I’m now ready to face the world with a new sense of passion.