Week 8

Week Eight, 10/10

               

Loren Eiseley talks a lot about the miraculous and how some of the most magnificent sights can be viewed through this lens. This reminds me of every time I see a magnificent sunset. I can’t help but think how God created such a beautiful thing, even in the midst of a whole bunch of chaos. I think a lot of our opinions of the miraculous revolves around comparison. Our world has been thrust into so much turmoil at the moment, so much so that anything that contrast starkly to that is viewed as out of the ordinary, unique, and outstanding. One day, my sister and I were praying outside, and we saw a cross in the sky. It had been formed by clouds, and it seemed like God was trying to speak to us through that image, saying, “I hear you,” or something of the sort. Another time when we were praying, my sister saw a chorus of angels singing in the sky. My mom and I were present as well, but the image was not visible to us. This was another encounter with the divine.

                So many people enjoy the variety of recreational activities that we are so fortunate to have available to us. What we fail to realize is how these hot spots became what they are today. What had to be destroyed to erect these buildings, amusement parks, and malls? Rarely do we ask these questions, but it’s important to realize that a plethora of wilderness was damaged, never to be returned to each original state and value. Long forgotten. Never to be spoke of again. I hate to make this analogy but it’s like the child that no one ever notices, and once they’re gone, no one acknowledges their absence. Wilderness is filled with life, not only with the plants, but animals and insects as well. Many may argue that these are of little importance, but what if there existed a race that was much bigger than us, big enough to get rid of us? Then we would surely worry. Then we wouldn’t be so careless and indifferent.

                Thomas Merton’s piece was also intriguing. Describing rain as a “festival” is peculiar and with further reflection, I can see where he was going. When I listen to the rain, I hear a sort of orchestra as the rain splatters on different surfaces. Loud tones. Soft tones. High pitches. Soft pitches. Ringing sounds. Thuds. Clicks. Vibrations. These all put you in the mindset of a concert, which is why I think I enjoy listening to the rain, especially thunderstorms, which provide the sound of thunder to add to the melody. I’m not a big fan of being in the rain, but I do enjoy the tranquility it elicits. Merton also says that you have to be alone to discover your identity, which is something I agree with. If you’re constantly surrounded by the world, you won’t have time to truly search yourself because you’re being bombarded by what others think is right and wrong, what others think you should do, and who others think you should be. There’s barely any room to think for yourself. I think we are all people-pleasers to some extent. It is rare to find someone whose goal in life is to make everyone angry. Therefore, people push us to be something we’re not and in order to realize that, you have to spend time alone, contemplating your decisions, examining your flaws, searching your personality, and sifting through your values.

                Nash talks about how the wilderness is a source of virility, and it’s interesting that he constantly refers to manliness when talking about the wilderness, as if feminine qualities would not stand a chance in the wild. This comes across as a little sexist and also portrays the wilderness as stereotypically “wild.” The wilderness is manly, so you have to sort of present reasonable match by also possessing manly attributes. Nash describes the wilderness as being able to develop these tough characteristics within individuals if we spend time with it. This is why he is such a proponent of the outdoor movement, like the Boy Scouts, because he believes that it makes you like a man, able to confront anything that comes your way and outcompeting those that lack these qualities. What does this say about women who are seen as feminine? How does this help gender equality if the wilderness if viewed through the lens of a man?

What also surprised me was how popular Tarzan still is today in the various outlets it has been presented through (i.e. film, book), as well as the re-makes. This shows that the idea of the savage, seen in a positive light, is truly celebrated. Being one with nature (animals and plants, alike) is something to be promoted, especially since Tarzan ends up getting the girl at the end. It’s also important to note that Tarzan drives out the “white man” who is not suited for and does not understand the wild life. In the end, the wilderness triumphs over civilization. Within the same story line, we get the idea of the importance of preservation.