peace of the wild things

last weekend, Stephen and I went on our first camping trip with the tent we gifted ourselves for our anniversary. I was a little worried that fighting off bugs and sleeping on the hard ground might not be my thing -  but, it was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed escaping into nature for a bit. We found this campsite at Apple River Canyon State park, just about a 2.5 hour drive from Chicago, and it was surprisingly remote considering that it was not that far from the city.

On Monday in yoga class, the yoga instructor read this poem during savasana ("corpse pose" ~ the bit at the end of class where you get to lie on the ground, eyes closed... one of the best parts of class!) that resonated with the camping experience~

the peace of the wild thingsWhen despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things 
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
~Wendell Berry

it's true ~ it's so peaceful to escape from the city and enjoy nature for a bit. Even just sitting by the lake can have a calming effect. It's a method that has helped me through a few bad days at work over the years. Seems like our anniversary gift is going to work out pretty well, after all :)