If you have followed my writing for any length of time, there should be no doubt about my love for the outside world. Whether I’m watching the foliage slowly turn from the deep green that growing seasons dictate to the fire of crimson and gold leaves gently falling to the earth, I wholeheartedly embrace the change. During the onset of the fall migration of waterfowl, I crane my neck with an ear towards the sky listening for faint cries of geese urging their leaders southward. There is no place like home when I make my way back to a special ridge each fall overlooking a beaver pond at the confluence of two creeks. Magical mornings have come to life here and witnessed by few. To say I am captivated is an understatement. One may be thinking that my “sole” purpose for my endeavors is the harvest of the bounty from the woods and waters. Though the word sounds identical, it is spelled differently, my reason is for the “soul.” I’ll explain.
Recently, I had an in-depth discussion with a friend and colleague about my excursions off the beaten path and why I do this. There is an inner sense that doesn’t just allow me to engage with nature, more aptly, this inner sense dictates I become part of the natural world. I have no choice in this matter. He said, “you go to the woods to escape reality.” Before replying, I thought about his profound words. It took a minute for his powerful statement to sink in, and it took another minute for me to digest it. Then it came to me. I replied, “no, I don’t go to the woods to escape reality, I go to the woods to FIND reality.” He was awestruck with my words, and I could see him delving deeper within himself.
The world, with all its fluff of hustle and bustle, chasing green, and I don’t mean mallards, is merely temporary. World unrest and the battle for power could eventually lead to the end of mankind and the earth as we know it. Chaos in our cities and differences in opinions are tearing us apart, and for what? People struggle daily to pacify the lenders that hold them accountable for the mortgage, the electricity bill, and the car note. Many can’t even sleep at night in fear of what the next morning may bring. These struggles are real! There was a time when I allowed a “struggle” of my own to consume me. In fact, I thought about it much too often. Again, allow me to explain.
Have you thought, or do you think, about the brief time that we actually spend on this earth? Do you understand that a 4.5-billion-year-old planet, Earth, has been inhabited by “mankind” only approximately 4.5 million years? If one is fortunate, an individual may live on this ancient planet only 75-80 years? My point is that our time in this world is minute compared to eternity. So, what is on the other side after we depart this world. This is where it gets deep but bear with me.
I used to think a lot about what it’s going to be like when we meet our maker. Will there be streets of gold lined with diamonds and emeralds, much like the yellow-brick road leading to the Emerald City? I’ve envisioned rounding a bend of a creek and detecting the aroma of biscuits and bacon. I thought about seeing a small cabin, and as I approached, my favorite dogs running to meet me jumping and barking incessantly. I’ve envisioned my mother walking out on the front porch hugging me tightly with my dad right behind her handing me a cup of coffee welcoming me home. You can tell me later if you felt a tear swell in your eye after reading this. Will there be a time when I meet my great, great, grandparents? Will I meet the person that made the arrowheads that I have picked up during my walks through cotton fields?
These are real questions that I have. In fact, it wasn’t until I spoke with a minister many years ago regarding my questions that put my mind to ease. He told me we are not to ask these questions, much less know what lies ahead of us on the other side. For us to ask these questions, and know these answers, would make us God, and this is not our place to do this. He said just have faith that whatever we try to imagine, it will be far better than what we think. This reminds me of another story.
The older I become, the more I think about the “end” as we know it on Earth. Also, I know these discussions can be touchy and I don’t profess to know it all and surely not to preach. I probably don’t sin but a couple hundred times a day, I just do my best not to repeat them. So, take this for what it’s worth. We all know there will be a last breath for all of us. Every now and then, my friends and I will talk about this, but it gets deep quick and we move on.
I recall a friend of mine years ago talking about this very subject. I asked him what he thought it would be like on the other side. He immediately told me that he didn’t know if there was a God or not. I believe the word is agnostic. He was very intelligent and I respected his opinions on many subjects, though we didn’t always agree. I do remember presenting a scenario to him. I said, wouldn’t you think it would be better to believe there is a God and find out there isn’t than not to believe, and find out there is? He sort of chuckled, and we moved on. Tragically, a few weeks later he had a massive heart attack and passed away. I still wonder at times if he thought about our last conversation.
I know this article strays a bit from my traditional writing about the swamps and the flora and fauna that make it what we know. I wanted to leave something with you to think about for a while and where you are in your life. Are you bogged down with daily problems and concentrate on things that are only temporary? Do you find yourself stressed to the max trying to keep the checkbook in the black? Do you miss your son’s baseball game or your granddaughter’s dance recital because you were late leaving the office working on the report your boss requested? Maybe the best word to describe finding peace and reality is balance. We may think reality lies in our everyday schedule and that peace is a job well done, but rest assured they aren’t. Think about my words and what you can do to ensure you focus on what is really important. I won’t go deeper than I already have and I wonder if I have pushed the envelope. I’ll just leave it here for you to decide.
For the next few months, I’m going to put my writing and “Outdoors in the Sun” on hold. Though my corporate world has changed, my endeavors have picked back up chasing down the bugs and the weeds. It will take a little while to figure out my schedule and how much time I will have to resume my efforts with pen and pad. Maybe I can balance catching grasshoppers, managing properties for next year’s visiting waterfowl, growing tomatoes, and still produce content for your reading experience.
Most of all, thank you for the opportunity to bring topics to your home for the past 20 years. If Wyatt and Jimmye will allow, I’ll be back for the next season of “Outdoors in the Sun.” Please drop me a note if I can do anything for you and if you have ideas for topics, I’m all ears. Thank you again. Until next time enjoy our woods and waters and remember, let’s leave it better than we found it.
jeff.north@northag.net.
