“While we are born with curiosity and wonder and our early years full of the adventure they bring, I know such inherent joys are often lost. I also know that, being deep within us, their latent glow can be fanned to flame again by awareness and an open mind.” - Sigrud Olson
I recently returned to normal life after a week in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. As the title of this blog alludes, for this adventure, I was in the company of four other Seminary students and two knowledgeable, flexible guides. All of them men. And me. I have been to the BWCAW before, but never in this configuration of talents, gifts, and well, gender. On this kind of adventure, the very best and worst of these people who are formed into a team are revealed, as are the best and worst of the self.
When we started I was tired. Mostly I was tired of thinking. I was tired of living in my head; of thinking, wondering, reading, learning... all pieces of my everyday urban-student-life that I love. But after one very long year of it, I was worn. I didn't want to think. I just wanted to be. And to be challenged in a way that didn't live in my head. To be challenged not in the depth, originality, or informed-ness of my thinking but in the strength of my body and the ferocious nature of my wonder-ing soul.
As the trip went on I eased into this different rhythm. Distractions shifted from ringing phones, bleeping computers, alerts, emails and the cacophony of busy.... to the sound of the water droplets from my paddle, the lap of the waves, the call of the loon. My eyes feasted on soaring eagles, enormous and ancient evergreens and cedars, rock faces, clear water and sun. And I could just be.
In between and amidst my unplugging, I plugged into conversation and journeying with (quite literally) my trip-mates. Over trail coffee (boil the water, throw in the grounds. Strain through the pot spigot and crunch the grounds. The added texture just adds to the rocket fuel nature of the brew) we would rest from the day's journey and wonder at where we were, together and apart. Lines of connection between experiences were drawn. Thoughts of wonder built upon each other. We also laughed, which was grand.
And now I am back to my urban life. Back to work, and study, and a different, but transformed wondering. What I will not journey apart from is connection and the space between one and the other is sacred and wonder-full ground.(Pictures were taken by my very talented new friend and trip participant Jason Mendoza)
