Camping a Spirtual Experience

Camping is a spiritual experience for many. When you real the bible stores of prophets, and spiritual seers, you find that many camped, and many went into mountains to gain spiritual uplift, inspiration and guidance.

When looking for the right campsite for that uplift, be sure to find a site wtih a view, a view that attracts your thoughts, such as a lake view, a particular tree that stands out, a view of a meadow, whatever. You will know what is attractive to your sight, and thoughts. Make sure you have a flat surface to avoid water runoff or water puddles should rain come. Make sure you have a cleared space for your cooking area, sleeping area, sitting area, and clothes line area. If you have a comfortable campsite, your spiritual inspiration will be more likely to come about, and  you will be happy to be out and about.

Tent life should also be comfortable and orderly. Make sure you have your shoes, or hiking boots near your sleeping bag or cot, since shoes are great storage compartments during the night. One shoe can hold your flashlight, and the other shoe can hold your glasses, car keys, wallet, pocket knife, and anything else that is small. I know from experience that we campers get up in the middle of the night and use the park restrooms, or nearby latrine or cathole. Camping food is good, and we tend to eat late into the night, or drink that good camping coffee. So having spare batteries for your flashlight is a good idea too, if the batteries are used. Of course a lantern works too for guiding you in the dark to the toilet. I often use my Treo light to get by, since it produces a strong light.

Remember in the bible, Moses went up into a mountain to listen to God giving him the 10 commandments. Remember, Jesus went up into a mountain to get inspiration for the Sermon on the Mount and expressed that divine message to his disciples. The Lords Prayer came to us from Jesus spiritual uplift in nature.

Everytime I am in the forest, on a camping trip, or camping by the sea, I get inspired, and get to thinking about God’s creation, and all the goodness in it. You see, my God is Good, and nature is good, although, we see nature in acts of unkindness, with our mortal eyes. I like to look out at the kingdom of God as God would. How do I do that. I go to the verse in Genesis 1, in which God “saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good.” That is anchored in my thought as I experience nature.

The act of photosynthesis, or plants making our air that we breath, inspires me, and I see that as an act of divine goodness. Everything about photosynthesis is healthy, natural, and represents life. It is a beautiful act of harmony. Trees need carbon dioxide, for their breathing, and we need what the trees make: oxygen. This natural air supply, and air production, give the forest a healthy place for us to be in. I often talk about photosynthesis, because too me, it is one of most incredible processes in nature. Each part of the plant, such as the roots, bark, trunk, branches, and leaves as well as the soil, sun, and atmosphere, take part in this process in a harmonious operation of goodness.

Nature is Good.

When I think of Florida’s Ecosystems

The other day, sitting on the deck of my home outside of Tallahassee, Florida, I got to thinking about photosynthesis. No, I was not thinking about my son’s obsession with video games, or the ugly news of the day. The wind was blowing, and the leaves on the trees in the green zone behind my home were wrestling and making that sound that always rests me. All day long those leaves are at work in the operation of photosynthesis. That is a benefit to all of us oxygen consumers.

Tallahassee has some great museums, where Florida’s nature can be studied. I am thinking of the Natural History Museum in southwest Tallahassee, with its zoo, and science center. There are or have been explanation of how photosynthesis works. It works alright. It better.

You see, we are blessed with so many evergreen trees. Trees are everywhere. Our air is healthy. Remember, trees filter out impurities in the air.

Now, as I had enough of that contemplation, I decided to get the grill ready for the hamburgers. We like the outdoors, even on these hot summer days. As long we we have shade, and plenty of ice cold lemonade or ice tea. We can always go inside later.

Next time you complain about too many trees, think of how important they are to the air we breath, and nature in general. Think of the animals including bird life that live in the trees. Thinks of the shelter trees give our homes from the hot penetrating sun. Florida use to have even more trees, but of course, as communities grow, trees are cut down.

What Trees to do Me

Around my home are many trees. We have a green zone of trees in our back, with rabbit, deer, fox, turtle, and other living organisms. I grew up with trees and in  most homes i lived in, in California, New Mexico, northwest Florida, Connecticut, there was a green zone either in the back yard, or close by. Always there were trees around the homes. To this day, I appreciate what trees do for the world, what values they have, and the beauty they have. Dad took me camping a lot when I was a young child, and I grew up in boy scouts. We went to a lot of interesting forests. I learned a lot about trees, how to tell the age of trees from the trees rings, how to identify certain trees. I read inspiring poems from great poets about trees. I read the thoughts and stories of the earlier native cultures in the Americas about trees. I am now teaching my son, and other children that I come in contact with, the importance of respecting, honoring and protecting trees, and what trees do for us.

Not too many decades ago, real estate developers, and builders went into an area, and literally removed all the trees to build what they felt was more important that saving the lives of trees. Of course, some trees have to be removed, this is logical, but not every single tree. Trees are part of natural ecosystems, and can color the landscaping.

Today, some, not all, developers are careful about removing all the trees, and do keep some of the trees in place. Also, laws or local ordinances have sprung up making those who cut down trees in the course of their business, to plant new trees. Tallahassee, Florida, has such an ordinance. In fact it is very hard to cut down trees in this community without a permit. Neighbors have had old, enormous Oak trees in or near their property, and have had a difficult time getting permission to have the big guy cut down. Tallahassee folks love trees as I do, and we are blessed with having so many canopy roads, roads with tree branch ceilings. There is a local group as well as local government, working to protect those trees from future threats.

Trees give us so many things. I will name a few that come to mind. They give us oxygen. Remember studying photosynthesis in biology class. Yes, trees need carbon dioxide to make oxygen for us breathing organisms. Cut down too many trees and the oxygen supply is in danger, and will be reduced. Of couse the seas also give us oxygen, as well as bushes.

Trees are the home to many other living organisms, squirrels, birds make nests, and so forth. Also there is the symbiotic relationship between trees and other plant life.

Trees are fun places for children to climb and make tree houses. What boy does not want to play in a tree house, and have his own club for his buddies.

Trees give us rubber for our tires, wood for furniture, paper we so religiously use, and wood for our homes. Most homes built today have a wood frame. Just drive by most any new home development under construction. What do you see going up: wood boards. We get pencils from our trees. I cannot neglect to mention the vast amount of medicines, and other chemical products that come from trees.

I like looking out at trees. I like visiting parks and forests, camping in the forests, admiring the stateliness, beauty and perfection of the trees. I can’t get enough trees in my life. They are my friends, each and everyone of them.

My suggestion to the world, is that we think carefully before chopping down a tree, or having someone do it. I would suggest that we make sure our local representatives pass ordinances to protect the trees in their communities. I would also suggest that more of us get out in nature, camp among the trees, and review the workings of photosynthesis, which is an necessary process for our survival on earth.

Tallahassee and its surroundings have so many trees, state parks for camping, hiking, getting out in nature, and a big national forest. This is a community of green everywhere it seems. Many other communities in Florida, such as Jacksonville, and Tampa, have few if any canopy roads, and have cut down most of their trees. I am proud of Tallahassee’s stand to protect its trees.

Visting and driving through the older neighborhoods, you see what was trees that that have been standing in their ground for so many years. There are trees several hundred years old. Yes, there is an abundance of old trees here. When looking homes with your real estate agent, talk about the trees if you like trees. Ask that one of the features that your home must have is trees in the yard, or a green zone out back.