Journal #2

Nicole Burns
September 5, 2017
Treks and Texts: Journeys into Nature
Daniel Williams

My reading experience this week let me delve into the works of Meriwether Lewis. At times his work was hard to read because of the peculiar language used. It reminded me of the King James Version of the bible except replaced with nature writing. Lewis included intricate detail when describing scenery and wildlife. He articulated that it was hard to put nature into words at times because of its vastness and majestic beauty. I feel the same way—there is something about looking at a waterfall, a mountain range, or the sea that just cannot be put into words. Part of the nature experience is living in that particular moment and being able to use all of our senses to fully engage. Although scenery is not easy to create a visual for, Lewis did write extensively about the weapons used to slaughter animals. I even learned that an espontoon has a shape of an ax and was used as a hunting tool. Furthermore, it was interesting to read about Lewis interactions with various forms of wildlife ranging from but not limited to: buffalo, elk, antelope, deer, wolves, goats, ox, beaver and bears. He was journaling during a period where we were not nearly as familiar with differentiating between types of bears for instance. Lewis would describe animals in a way foreign to many of us—he would talk about the size of an animal’s lungs, liver, and heart because these animals were being dissected for the nutritional benefit of the hunter.

Another piece of literature that has impacted society comes from Dr. Roderick Nash. The idea of manifest destiny lays the framework that it is divinely appointed that explorers were to expand and claim American territory. The justification for this expansion was that explorers were able to spread democracy and Christianity. They believed they were doing Gods will. There were many biblical ties to new and Old Testament scripture in this reading. From the beginning, God created nature for man to enjoy. Adam and Eve were in a beautiful garden when the fall of man took place. It is neat for me to reflect on how the Lord has used nature in so many narratives about His people and also about Jesus. Oftentimes Jesus would retreat to secluded areas in nature to pray to the Father. Our class discussion explored the idea of the wilderness as a sort of sanctuary. Like Jesus did, many of us today use places in nature to escape for the hustle and bustle of the city. Nature allows us to reflect on the fact that we are really small people in a grandeur creation that declares an ultimate creator. I think about the serenity that nature can provide for the soul, but one must also consider the challenge that nature can impose on an explorer. Nash talked about the first New England colonists, particularly Bradford and his wife, who were overwhelmed by the vastness of this foreign place now known as America.  The expanse of the wild before them was greater than could be conceived and the fear of the unknown was ever present in their minds.

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