You may not be aware of it, but you are longing to spend time in nature. Previous generations could take this for granted and not even notice they were in it. We don’t have that luxury.
Ben Franklin sought to examine and understand it. Ernest Hemingway sought to contend with it with a rifle and a fishing pole. Edmund Hillary sought to conquer it when he assaulted Mt. Everest. Industry has exploited it for its resources, pushing every other interest out of the way as it goes. As it turns out, nature has withstood the examinations, contentions, assaults and exploitation, and has become worse for the wear, to the point that we’re concerned that it soon won’t be there for us.
But it’s where we want to be. We crave fresh air over the odors we emit, sunshine over the incandescent/halogen/LED/neon lighting we create for ourselves, and the gentle sound of wind, water and wildlife over the cacophony of construction, destruction, and entertainment. The problem is, until you’re there, you probably don’t realize it.
A friend once said to me, “Even if you win the rat race, you’re still a rat.” Don’t you want to be human? What does it mean to human? That doesn’t have to be a rhetorical question. There are answers. One part of that answer can be found in a forest or by the ocean. Look out the window. If you’re lucky, nature may still be there.
