I must include one last commentary regarding this year's camping trip. It was early afternoon on a weekday and we were the only campers on site - the beach area and river were 'ours' alone. We had fished successfully for trout and bluegill, investigated the shoreline both up and down river, eaten lunch and were now resting under the umbrella for awhile with some magazines. Soon however, a lone canoeist appeared, gliding quickly around the rapids at the bend and then slower through the deep pool in front of us. He stopped to converse for a moment, although he confessed that he preferred the solitude of unpopulated areas. We agreed, asked if he'd had any portages, answered his questions about fishing luck, and then wished him well as he pushed off. The friendly fellow turned and waved as he cornered a rock jetty, and we saw him stop, cast his line and fish for a few minutes before he floated out of site.
The momentary encounter and quick, silent departure of the solitary mariner made me think of human relevance. Surrounded by the beautiful Ozark mountains, the rushing river currents, and the high, wide blue sky, and observing the endless varieties of wildlife in this valley, one can only realize that a human being is an insignificant presence in this microcosm, and indeed the universe. I was immensely humbled.
No comments:
Post a Comment