"kerry" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>20 years ago, when I was in college, some friends and I took a road
>>trip up
to Lake Superior. It was a beautiful Sunday morning and as
>>we stood there
with the waves crashing to the shore I said, "We
>>forgot to go to church
today," and my friend said, "This IS church."
>>I've believed that ever
since. I have always felt more spiritual and
>>alive in nature than in any
church building.
Amen.
I subscribe to no religion other than wild nature; all the other religions
and churches are illusion. My #1 "church" is Redwood National Park in far
northern California. Those giant trees are living spirits, and with the cool
grey fog drifting through the lush ferns and forests sloping down to the
ocean ... this is all I need to feel godliness.
I've been there many times; my wife and I honey mooned there and have been
back several times for what I like to call "Jewish camping" ... you hike
through the redwoods and the beach all day but then return to town for a nice
restaurant meal and a hotel room for a warm shower and cozy bed.
In particular, get thee to a place called Gold Bluffs Beach, a short drive
from the main highway down a dirt road to the beach, and then a short drive
on a gravel road parallel to the beach, hugging the huge gold bluffs, paying
respects to the bemused herd of elk grazing a mere few feet from you (they
are protected and therefore don't fear humans or cars) to the end of the road
which is also the beginning of Fern Canyon, an incredible primordial canyon
with a series of trails and various terrains.
We once hiked through a dark, foggy redwood stand which led to a football
field-sized open meadow, at the end of which stood a lone bull elk, with a
huge rack, aloof and chewing. Another time we hiked along the dunes of the
beach, and perched on top of a large driftwood stump to consider a small
family of female elk and their calves nearby, with its bull patriarch
standing guard not far off. After awhile, the bull became agitated, and we
noticed that a challenging bull was approaching from the opposite direction.
It was rutting season, which is definitely not a good time to be in between
two competing bulls. Obviously, we got the hell out of there.
Amazingly, Redwood National Park, because of its relatively remote location,
is the least visited, least crowded of all the national parks in the
contiguous 48 states. I highly recommend this sublime mecca ... it's my
church, but all are welcome.
-Fred Simon
