| Ross Janovec |
What is spirituality? This word is such a broad term, with each person on the planet having a varying idealism for his or her own
spirituality. Some find their spirituality through organized religion, while others find their spirituality through the simple things that make
up their lives. Through the simple-ness of the wilderness, Sigurd F. Olson finds his spirituality. To find one’s spirituality, one usually has
to go through many different activities to get to their fulfillment. In The Singing Wilderness, Olson finds his spirituality through the many
activities that take him to his un-named goal within the wilderness. The fulfillment Olson found while he was in the wilderness is similar
to the fulfillment that I felt during and after our trip to the same area. Through hard work, companionship, and meditation the wilderness
can bring a person’s spirit alive.
spirituality. Some find their spirituality through organized religion, while others find their spirituality through the simple things that make
up their lives. Through the simple-ness of the wilderness, Sigurd F. Olson finds his spirituality. To find one’s spirituality, one usually has
to go through many different activities to get to their fulfillment. In The Singing Wilderness, Olson finds his spirituality through the many
activities that take him to his un-named goal within the wilderness. The fulfillment Olson found while he was in the wilderness is similar
to the fulfillment that I felt during and after our trip to the same area. Through hard work, companionship, and meditation the wilderness
can bring a person’s spirit alive.
The Necessity of Wilderness
What he found out was that to receive spiritual rejuvenation from the
wilderness, one must work through the trials faced and use those experiences
to make the spiritual side of the wilderness come alive in one’s soul.
wilderness, one must work through the trials faced and use those experiences
to make the spiritual side of the wilderness come alive in one’s soul.
There is nothing like the fulfillment a person feels after just finishing a hard days
work. Having the knowledge that he or she just did an amazing amount work to get
to where they are now fills them with the rejuvenation needed to get up day after day
to get the job done. Much like each day of the LAS trip in BWCAW. Without working
for it, what sense of completion for can you feel for the day? Olson had similar
feeling on the subject when he decided to fly out to a spot in the wilderness, instead
of canoe to that spot. His sentiments were: “for the first time in my life I had failed to
work for the joy of knowing the wilderness; I had not given it a chance to become a
part of me.” (Pg. 115) Olson thought he could just plant himself in the wilderness to
get the spiritual lift-up he needed.
work. Having the knowledge that he or she just did an amazing amount work to get
to where they are now fills them with the rejuvenation needed to get up day after day
to get the job done. Much like each day of the LAS trip in BWCAW. Without working
for it, what sense of completion for can you feel for the day? Olson had similar
feeling on the subject when he decided to fly out to a spot in the wilderness, instead
of canoe to that spot. His sentiments were: “for the first time in my life I had failed to
work for the joy of knowing the wilderness; I had not given it a chance to become a
part of me.” (Pg. 115) Olson thought he could just plant himself in the wilderness to
get the spiritual lift-up he needed.
There is a certain silence in the wilderness. A silence that makes a person
have to work to hear the sounds hidden within the wilderness and themselves.
After a long day’s work there is much rest and relaxation to be done. This
provides a person with the time to meditate about everything going on in their
head without the distractions of civilization. Much soul searching can be done.
With the wilderness being an example, a person can relate their problems to
their surroundings. My experiences in the wilderness have shown me the purity
and uncorrupted nature of the area we were in. Every problem in my mind
simplified by my surroundings. When a person sees the simple-ness of nature,
they are then able to simplify their own problems. Seeing the tribulations that the
wilderness has gone through puts a person’s own problem on a smaller level.
The troubled times for a person are nothing compared to that of the wilderness.
Each human is around a measly 100 years compared to the millennia the
wilderness has been in existence. The wilderness’ problems are just so much
bigger that a person’s problems are insignificant to those experienced by the
wilderness.
have to work to hear the sounds hidden within the wilderness and themselves.
After a long day’s work there is much rest and relaxation to be done. This
provides a person with the time to meditate about everything going on in their
head without the distractions of civilization. Much soul searching can be done.
With the wilderness being an example, a person can relate their problems to
their surroundings. My experiences in the wilderness have shown me the purity
and uncorrupted nature of the area we were in. Every problem in my mind
simplified by my surroundings. When a person sees the simple-ness of nature,
they are then able to simplify their own problems. Seeing the tribulations that the
wilderness has gone through puts a person’s own problem on a smaller level.
The troubled times for a person are nothing compared to that of the wilderness.
Each human is around a measly 100 years compared to the millennia the
wilderness has been in existence. The wilderness’ problems are just so much
bigger that a person’s problems are insignificant to those experienced by the
wilderness.
Through the experiences of hard work, companionship, and meditation a person can find who they truly are or were their whole life.
The knowledge people find in themselves provides the person with a sense of fulfillment. The people now know something about
themselves that makes them a better person and where they can go whenever they need their spirit filled again. Each activity the
person performed provided them with a small piece of the fulfillment they used to fill up their soul. The spirituality I found was
reinforcement for me, but knowing I was part of other people's growth is what truly inspires me to keep going into the wilderness and
the simple-ness that it provides.
The knowledge people find in themselves provides the person with a sense of fulfillment. The people now know something about
themselves that makes them a better person and where they can go whenever they need their spirit filled again. Each activity the
person performed provided them with a small piece of the fulfillment they used to fill up their soul. The spirituality I found was
reinforcement for me, but knowing I was part of other people's growth is what truly inspires me to keep going into the wilderness and
the simple-ness that it provides.
The feeling of loneliness can overwhelm many people in the wilderness. Having a certain comfort with your surroundings can provide
you with the chance to realize how much life there is surrounding you. Olson felt a sense of calm while in the wilderness. He embraced
the wildlife around him as other living beings also in the constant struggle for existence. Olson sometimes went as far as to say that the
wilderness was his. The wilderness was for him and him alone. His reaction to someone else being at “his” fishing spot shows his
selfishness. His reaction was: “But because the river was mine alone when I got there, it had always been worth the effort.” Olson
thought that since he had only witnessed himself at this spot, that it alone was his to find oneness with the wilderness and his spirit. I
must disagree with Olson. Being able to share the experience with someone else means a lot. Knowing that the other five people in the
group just went through the same tribulations that person went through gives them something that they will share for a lifetime. Being
able to go into the wilderness and know that everyone felt a change in themselves for the better gives everyone strength. Knowing that
part of that person’s positive spiritual growth came from the experiences that they experienced with the other person gives both a greater
sense of spiritual growth.
you with the chance to realize how much life there is surrounding you. Olson felt a sense of calm while in the wilderness. He embraced
the wildlife around him as other living beings also in the constant struggle for existence. Olson sometimes went as far as to say that the
wilderness was his. The wilderness was for him and him alone. His reaction to someone else being at “his” fishing spot shows his
selfishness. His reaction was: “But because the river was mine alone when I got there, it had always been worth the effort.” Olson
thought that since he had only witnessed himself at this spot, that it alone was his to find oneness with the wilderness and his spirit. I
must disagree with Olson. Being able to share the experience with someone else means a lot. Knowing that the other five people in the
group just went through the same tribulations that person went through gives them something that they will share for a lifetime. Being
able to go into the wilderness and know that everyone felt a change in themselves for the better gives everyone strength. Knowing that
part of that person’s positive spiritual growth came from the experiences that they experienced with the other person gives both a greater
sense of spiritual growth.
