#11 How class has affected my view of wilderness and nature

Afton Reed

On our first day of class we were told to write an introduction poem that told Kip what we thought wilderness to be. I remember mentioning green.But I soon learned I was mistaken. The green stuff is referred to more as nature. Wilderness is a different thing completely. It is much more specific. It is untrammeled. It is not inhabited by humans. There can be no roads running through it and there are actually laws that identify and protect it. But, when I think of wilderness as a sacred place, I don't completely think of the guidelines. I can see why the specific guidelines make it sacred for some people. A place with no roads, that humans aren't allowed to temper with, can be comforting. But I don't mind knowing that people are near by. I sometimes find people to be sacred.This class has taught me what makes places sacred to other people. And that a place can be sacred without you even knowing. And ultimately people find sanctuary in nature. They always have and they probably always will.