12/31/07 - Looking Forward

The new year tends to be a time of reflection. We reflect on what we accomplished over the past year while also looking at what we could have done better. We also set new goals in an attempt to make the new year "better than ever before."

I find it also to be a time to ponder my spirituality and sense of mortality. Some people think both of these things need to be done in a church. Which is fine. But I don't. To me, the definition of the establishment called "Church" is inherently flawed. Think of all the atrocities that have occurred and will continue to occur "in the name of religion/God/Allah/whatever." But the bigger question is why do I need to congregate anywhere in order to be in touch with my sense of spirituality, mortality, morality, or what have you? The answer is, I don't.

To me, there is nothing more spiritual than pitting myself against a hard mountain climb. Or being wrapped in utter and complete silence while snowshoeing through the mountain trails. A most beautiful sight is the heavy snow weighing down the conifers which surround the snowshoe trail. There's no one around. No whizzing of passing cars. Nothing but me and the natural surroundings. To me, this is as close as one gets to "god" (or whatever you might want to call it).

It's times like the above that help me realize there is something greater out there than myself. If that's what you want to define as "god", then I guess you can label me as "a believer". However, if you ask me to believe in some omnipotent being who created everything which surrounds me as part of some divine plan, then not so much. The magnificence of what surrounds us is astonishing at times. As it should be. We should allow ourselves to be constantly reminded to not take these things for granted. For they might be gone in an instant. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. All we have is today. We should relish today and all it offers us. And be thankful for our experiences as we look forward to more experiences tomorrow.

But live for today. Each day is an opportunity to reflect back on the past and determine what we might want to do differently. A new beginning does not have to wait until 1/1. But here we are on the brink of a new year. And countless masses of people will use this time of year to make empty, hollow promises about how they plan to make themselves "better" in monumental ways.

Instead, give me a clear road into the mountains or an epic snowshoe trail any day of the year. Allow me to contemplate whatever might be weighing on me at the time while I slug it out with my surroundings. Indeed, it is when I am at one with my surroundings that my mind clears and I am finally open to facing whatever it is that currently troubles me. My armor sloughs off. I am exposed and vulnerable. And the wheels in my mind start whirring.

Sitting in a pew doesn't do it for me.