I know the experience you are talking about. I learned it for the the first time as a Junior in High School around 1970, before Columbine was even dreamed of. I thought I knew all about the outdoors until I went on a trip with the (High School) Woodstock Outdoor Club in the wilderness of Southeast Missouri Ozarks. Back then it was very undeveloped and I hope it still is. I am glad the teachers had the forsight to see the valuable lessons one can learn that are not taught in the classroom.
After High School I just had to take the ultimate challenge in outdoor experience called Colorado Outward Bound. There I learned that I was not as much the outdoorsman I thought I was and that I never was in super good condition.
My first experience of hiking in thin mountain air in the San Juan Mountain Range taught me that I don't need to rush wherever I walk and to pace my steps. The first day I was trying to storm those mountains like a Marine landing on a Pacific Island. We had a guide to advise me otherwise. I also found that that sun at a high altitude burns skin faster than it does in the Great Lakes Region and I constantly battled chapped lips.
At the end of the 22 day course I felt like I could do anything especially when I landed in the plane at O' Hare Airport. After such an excursion I could see some of the craziness our civilization is involved with.
Five years later, I again found out I wasn't so tough when I volunteered for a four year committment in the National Guard. At Ft Leonardwood Mo. I discovered the forced march and had my patience tested with the guys that couldn't or wouldn't keep up with the formation, hold me back when I knew I could walk at the pace the Drill Seargeant set.
What did I learn from all of this? to name a few off the top of my head.
1. Not everybody is going to have patience with my shortcommings. I should always try to contribute the best I can and do my part in the group. Carry my load!
2. Do not judge those that fall short of doing their part even though it is hampering our success as a group. Learn to deal with a person that is trying to do their best but falls short of meeting expectations. I know what it is like to be that person.
Take part of the load for those who cannot handle it all!
3. Respectfully disagree with the tyrant leader that wants everything to be done his way.
4. after Basic Training and Infantry School and receiving Christ, years of learning Godly virtues, failing miserably but learning each time I fail.
A. to encourage those that are discouraged and refuse to do their part.
B. Accepting things the way they are if I can't change it and praying for God's power to change that which must be changed.
C. Learning to love those with Gods power that I would rather dispise and destroy.
5. Seeing God reveal His many characteristics through the awsomeness of nature.
Onward In Gods Service
Randall A Hermanson
Pioneer Commander
FCF 1998
OP#1 Woodstock Il
If I would sit and think about it some more I could come up with
more profound wisdom that I have learned but this is just a quick shot.
These are some of the things I desire to teach children even though
I haven't any of my own. Taking young people out into Gods Great Creation
is no better way to teach.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
This weekend Duane & I went on a 10 mile + hike through the Gifford Pinchot
National Forest with the Scouts. The first 3 miles were the most difficult
having to navigate a 700ft incline through slippery wet and rocky trails.Boys from 11 years old to 17 years old went on this "conditioning" hike,
preparing themselves for the 50miler to come this summer. Some boys had
NEVER been on a forest trail in their lives and it showed. Grumbling a bit,
some of the younger boys said that they missed their GameBoys, as they
walked passed scat left behind by some Elk looking down upon them and a
massive waterfall. Wild Trillium flowers which take 7 years in the wild for
their first bloom were missed by inattentive eyes but finally having to
figure out how to forge a swift running stream brought a reality check to
the group.One boy donned in tennis shoes and 1 pair of cotton socks soon
discovered that just the mere act of walking could wear holes in ones socks
and blisters on one's feet.So why should anyone HAVE to hike or camp in the outdoors? Just BEING
outdoors is a MUST experience for everyone. As city dwellers we are all
consumed by our own creations; computers, cars, telephones, brick buildings
and miss out on discovering God's creations. Spending just 1 night in the
outdoors can be a life-changing experience and/or walking a distance farther
than from the car to the supermarket can show you how healthy you really
are. It made me appreciate how far Jesus really had to travel to get from
one place to another.I hope all Rangers, even, city dwellers find an opportunity to take some
time to appreciate life beyond their own backyards.Cdr Jen
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