into the wild.

Yesterday my roommate K and I went out to Weston, MO for some quality time with friends at the local Irish bar. Before hiding ourselves in the stone cellar with hard cider and cigars, we headed off the beaten path into Weston Bend State Park - where autumn lives.

We took some pictures and chatted a little, but mostly, we just sat in quiet, watching the sun as it sank below the horizon and lit up the trees.

I have to agree with Ken Burns - the national park is one of America's best ideas. Having spaces like this that are still somewhat wild, where people can retreat from the never-ceasing noise of modern life to look at something beautiful and have the chance to feel small, is an incredible blessing.

The best novel unit I taught at AVMS was Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. As I read it to prepare for teaching, and then re-read it with my students, followed by watching the movie together, I finally found that I understood better the value that Chris McCandless saw in disappearing from society. When I saw the movie the year it came out, I just thought he was an idiot who was selfish and deserved to die because of his foolishness. But years later, now that I've had more time to live, I see it's nowhere near that simple. Removing yourself from the company of others and being in nature gives you space to breathe; to let your heart and mind recuperate from the trial of your workaday life. It gives you time to ponder truth.

Of course, once we've discovered the truth and refreshed ourselves, it's in our blood to want to turn and tell another soul about it. This impulse is evidence why Chris and the monks and the various religious ascetics who vanished into the wilderness have gotten it all wrong: living in total isolation from humanity won't bring the full mental and spiritual revelation you desire. Jesus himself, though He regularly would leave even His beloved disciples to go be with His Father in prayer, always returned to spend time with people.

So, in conclusion, there is a need for the human soul to go "into the wild," even if it's only a backyard, to rest and refresh and recuperate. But, at some point, we still need people.

Even if it's only to beat them senseless in speed Scrabble.