Hiking/Camping Part 1 – Enjoying Nature

Image by no-frills marilyn. via Flickr

Well this post and its subsequent parts will be a little out of the ordinary from the usual topics of this blog.  Lately I have not been deeply studying or meditating on theological issues.  I feel this is good as it can also be spiritually positive to be employed in other diversions.  The particular diversion of spending time in nature can be of great benefit to clear ones mind and lighten ones thoughts.  It can humble us and exalt the One who created it all.  Over the past several years I have been selling the idea of camping to my wife and kids and with our youngest now over a year old I think I may be able to schedule some outings.  Also with how tight money is getting due to rising taxes and inflation at the pump and in the stores camping can be an economical alternative to the usually expensive family vacation.

My children and I enjoy watching Man vs Wild.  This show is hosted by Bear Grylls an ex-British special forces soldier who was the youngest person to climb mount Everest.  Bear is dropped off in remote parts of the world with some bare essentials and than proceeds to hike until he finds civilization.

Along the way Bear provides insight into survival techniques.  The tools and methods are highly instructive and entertaining.  Also it is encouraging to know that Bear is a believer and often comments about God’s design in nature during the show.

My fond memories of camping as a child with my parents and the show Man vs Wild have been the motivation lately to research backpacking, camping and survival methods.  I have put together lists of gear and tips that I will be presenting in future blog articles.  Some of the major considerations that I have come up with when planning and gearing up are:

1. Weight, you want to pack things that have as many uses as possible with the lightest possible weight.
2. Quality, you want to have gear that can take more abuse than the average generic, parochial, everyday-ware.
3. Size, you want to have gear that takes up as little room as possible, sacrificing as little functionality as possible.
4. Cost, you want to consider the cost versus the benefit so that you don’t break the bank buying gimmicks or paying for a name.
5. Functionality, you want gear that provides the broadest benefit to limit the number of items you need.
6. Skill, you need to know how to use what you have and what you find in nature.
7. Need, you need to optimize meeting your needs by knowing what is essential and what is optional.

King David was well aware of who God is having encountered him in nature while tending flocks of sheep and sleeping out under the starts.  He wrote in Psalm 8:

8:1 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [2]
and crowned him with glory and honor.

Well I think these next set of posts should be fun.  Hope others find this as enjoyable as I have.