Picture: Glacier National Park–St. Mary’s Lake
I have sought out nature’s healing power to support me in recovery after a second major surgery in six months. Even though I live in a beautiful part of the country, there is a draw to go to alpine heights, deep forest and overarching mountains.
Our destination is a place I have not been to before, “The Crown of the Continent,” Glacier Park. We have found that it is deserving of its reputation for stunning beauty. Even more to the point, wandering through the woods, hiking along its lakes and casting an eye on surrounding snow capped peaks has brought a palpable healing current from surrounding nature.
While it is true that spiritual vibration is equally spread throughout creation and we may experience it in any circumstance, it has also been plain to me that God has wished me to be immersed in Nature’s Cathedrals of pristine settings, from desert expanse to lush forest.
I have felt the regenerational force pulsating all around me in our meandering through woods, sitting at the feet of pounding waterfalls, and peering up stark rocked cliffs covered in green, orange and red lichen.
Nature has indeed come close in the form of a black bear who came visiting to our doorstep. However the ranger felt it was safer to pepper spray him, of which we got our share of the dosage; making us sneeze, cough, and general irritation for some time afterwards! I think Mr. Bear definitely felt the welcome mat was rolled up and used to swat him on the head!
One of the interesting points up high is the hydrological apex; one of three in the world. Within inches a raindrop may land and end up in the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico/Atlantic Ocean, or the Hudson’s Bay/Arctic Ocean. The chance of landing inches of this side of the Great Divide or the other, or whether water runs north or south on the east side makes all the difference as to where that droplet ends up. By chance or by design, depending on your view, it is remarkable to think of the vast differences of destination based on inches of origin of a plop. It brings to mind choices we make and where those currents of life take us based on even a small decision.
Today we took a boat ride up the stunningly aqua colored St. Mary Lake. The grinding of the glaciers upon the rock makes “rock flower,” a fine rock powder which in turn gives the lake its distinctive and remarkable color. We hiked over three miles to St. Mary and Virginia Falls, having a picnic lunch in the shade of an 80 degree day. A week ago I would not have been able to attempt such a walk up and down hills, but today I was satisfyingly tired at its end.
This test of endurance indicates that healing is on a good track. The smell of the trees, wildflowers such as blue lupines and bright orange/red Indian Paintbrush, the pranic flow of terrific waterfalls brings me strength, inner comfort and joy. We used the warning bear-bells to accompany our chant of Om Sri Ram, much in the style of the tinkling cymbals of Anandashram, as we moved around blind corners and up and down bear populated hills.
In short, this rambling narrative is to give you an idea of the physical surroundings and the spiritual vibrancy that has come alive for us here. As I write this I sit looking out over a meadow that in a distance drastically rises up thousands of feet where trees give way to steep rock culminating in a peak pointing to the blue heavens. The birds sing, the sun sets behind the opposite mountains and my heart expands out in universal love; the distinct knowledge that God is sending His blessings to you.
Post Note: As we drove 30 miles into Browning to get internet to send out this posting we saw on the smartphone that a young man who worked for the forest service was killed by a Grizzly bear while out mountain biking with a friend near the west gate of Glacier National Park. Please say a prayer for him and his family and loved ones.