Nature is Truth. Truth is Beauty. Nature is Beautiful.

One of the things that I love about life in general is the dichotomy of the modern and the ancient worlds. Something I've always envied about places like Europe is that the people there are living in the same geographical location as generation upon generation before them. They can wake up in their flat, walk down the road built by Romans, past the castle that was built in the Middle Ages, and around the corner from a grand Gothic cathedral that was one of the earliest examples of its kind. They don't even think about it! It's just part of their environment. I've never been across the Atlantic, but I wonder how the people there don't just stop and marvel at the vast history that surrounds them. I wonder if it's anything like what I feel when I experience our American version.

I'm not necessarily talking about the American history that we all learn in high school (hopefully) and later in college. The history that I try to experience (at least every other weekend) is our fantastic natural history. One of the advantages of living in the western United States is that civilization is so spread out, there's room for the monuments of our natural history. I'm lucky enough to live an hour outside one of the greatest National Parks in Utah (and I would say the whole country!). No matter how I'm feeling when I go into the park, I end up feeling relaxed and happy by the time I have to leave. I know that it might seem corny to use the phrase "commune with nature," but it's an accurate description of my experience. I feel more religious in such a beautiful setting than I ever have in a religious structure of any denomination.

There is more truth present in nature than I have ever found in society. It never lies. It doesn't try to hide its harsher side. It can be cruel. It can be wonderful. It can be heart-breaking. It can heal. It does not pretend. I sit in the presence of massive, timeless formations that took eons to become what they are. They were here before we wormed our way out of the oceans and walked on two feet. They (hopefully) will be here long after we blow ourselves into oblivion. If you ever want to understand the meaning of patience, try contemplating a mountain. If that doesn't almost make your mind explode, you're not doing it right (I get the same feeling when I try to comprehend the vastness of space).

Nature makes no demands upon anybody unless they choose to test themselves against it. Anyone can take away any meaning they wish from experiencing nature. One could come away with a greater understanding and appreciation of God, or whichever supreme being one chooses to believe in. One could come away with a deep impression of the weight of time and the natural process of evolution. To me, either perspective is extremely comforting. Either way, there is something greater, more ancient and enduring than myself. Whether or not it is indifferent to me is irrelevant. Nature is the sharpening stone that gives us our edge. To be in nature, to really appreciate it and make an effort to understand it, is to know yourself - your true self, beneath everything that you might show to society, even friends and family. There is no need to pretend with nature because it doesn't judge.

I'm sorry that this is more of a collection of random thoughts than a coherent blog, but in order for me to come to an understanding of something, I need to explore it in as many ways as possible. I feel that I am the better for my efforts.

Books are my drug of choice

In recent months I have been thinking a lot about things like education, intellectualism, and reading. I remember reading an article online that raised some controversy among the readers who commented on it. The article was about an author of books for young readers who created an interactive website set in the world of the series he'd created. Somewhat tangentially, this sparked a discussion on the definition of reading itself. Some commentors expressed their opinion that the only true reading is done in books and newspapers. Others rejected such a rigid definition, believing that reading is done in many media, such as blogs, magazines, and even video games, to name a few. What struck me about this debate was that no one was disagreeing on the basics of reading. What they were really arguing about was the apparent quality of the reading material. That lead me to the realization that reading is merely the act of transferring knowledge (of whatever caliber) to the mind. Let's leave that thought for a moment.

As far as education goes, I'm in favor of it. I don't think that every person benefits from the exact same type of learning. That's why God invented majors. I accept that some people are better suited to, and indeed seek after traditional education (i.e. colleges, universities, etc.). Some people are drawn to more practical knowledge, like technical programs. I encourage everyone to seek after whatever knowledge they think will help them to improve their lives. What I can't accept is when people choose to be ignorant. I realize that different people have different limitations and different interests. For a person who truly wishes to learn, however, I believe that those are surmountable obstacles, especially in this country. There are many ways to learn. I take issue with people who willfully deny their minds the opportunity to improve, especially when they hold strong opinions on things they know nothing about. I believe in knowing enough to know when you don't know everything. That might seem a little convoluted, but the principle is sound.

This brings me back to reading. I don't believe that one can only benefit from reading if the reading is intellectual (in the sense of pursuing facts). Reading for pleasure is also beneficial. As Tom Stoppard said, "It is better of course to know useless things than to know nothing." The act of reading, as discussed above, exposes the mind to knowledge. Knowledge comes in all kinds of forms. Even subconscious knowledge can be gleaned from reading. Ideas are found everywhere in all types of books. There is a wealth of knowledge and ideas all around us all the time, insubstantial, but there just the same! Choosing not to tap into that wealth...I don't understand. I don't accept that some people do not possess curiosity. I believe that they simply deny it. They deny it because they are afraid. The old adage "ignorance is bliss" is not without truth. There are many things that I am sadder for knowing, but I do not regret the knowledge. While my work, my surroundings, my environment may change, there is one thing that always remains constant. My hunger for the knowledge that I have yet to obtain is never erased. In short, readers, I know that your soul seeks that which can be obtained only through the written word. And that's why books are my drug of choice.