"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature...And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles."
-Anne Frank
"God is entirely and personally present in the wilderness, in the garden, in the field."
-Martin Luther
"National parks are an investment in the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of Americans as individuals."
-Conrad L. Wirth
"In the afternoon I came up the mountain here with a blanket and a piece of bread to spend the night in prayer among the sprouts of this fall. But what can I say more than wish again that you might expose your soul to the rays of this heaven?"
-John Muir
I share all this in the interest of honesty, because the last thing I have ever wanted to do with this blog is give off some impression that this year on the road, as amazing as it might be, is always perfect or all sunshine and rainbows and unicorns (and I would probably not get a good shot of the unicorn because I'd be wearing the wrong lens). But I also hate broadcasting negativity over the web because we all know there is already plenty of that out there. I have struggled for four solid days on whether or not to post any of these thoughts. But God did His usual thing and showed up big to redeem it and heal my tired mind. He also showed me a 65 year old man in a little black ruffled miniskirt. On a very windy day. Don't tell me the Lord lacks a sense of humor.
Tune in tomorrow to hear all about it. The redemption -- probably not the miniskirt. I'm still debating whether or not to blog about that.
-Jenni