It's interesting that a desire for the mountains, rivers, a sleeping bag, a kayak, a beard, and coffee in a french press for the morning has been grappling my soul in response to this deep weathering.
Even just typing those words out give me the man shivers.
/man ˈSHivərs/
noun
when an interaction with a person, place, or thing stirs a person of the male gender into a desirous state of adventure, beard-growing, and traveling by trail or river.
It seems that no matter the man, there is an innate desire within him to have adventure, a sense of wilderness, and an awareness of something greater than himself. I recently found this when I went to Yosemite for the first time. What an incredible place. "Incredible" hardly does the valley of green trees, mellow fields, and harsh pure-rock mountains justice. But why use a more complicated word to fail to describe this place?
I was amazed that it took me twenty-two years, all of which were contained by the state of California for the most part, to visit a place like Yosemite. It's almost sad that it took me that long. Yet there's part of me that is thankful it took me this long - God knows adolescent Trevor would have not appreciated the beautiful landscape. Twenty-two year old me, though, man, wow.
As I visited many sites, climbed under a waterfall, and hiked to another waterfall I found a natural ease to an ever thinking mind. I found that my innate desire, that desire that gives me the man shivers, satisfied beyond words.
My mind had space to think as much as it needed. I was active and my body simply felt right. The sounds of the many streams and falls and the brush of the mountain breeze on my bit of facial hair soothed my heart which ached of transition and people-pleasing.
As I sailed upon the vast free see of thought in Yosemite, I drifted across a significant thought.
How can I bring Yosemite home?
When I was there, I longed to bring all the exquisiteness of the California mountain country home with me?
Now, there is no realistic way to do that is there? Maybe I could bring some friends back with me. Perhaps I could bring some of the students I work with.
Oh to share the beauty of God that is more than able to share it self - creation.
And then I realized - are not human beings God's most glorious creations? Are we not "very good". Yosemite blew me away, but it is not every day I am blown away by the creation all around me in the small city of Walnut Creek. Yosemite is with me always. I am surrounded by people more beautiful than the mountains, beards, or coffee of the wilderness.
Disclaimer: I think there will always be something that only nature can fulfill for me; the city life is truly not for me....
Let me honest by saying I don't actually see people this way. People do not ease my heart and mind like Yosemite did. My innate desire for adventure is not quickly filled by the presence of other flesh-dwellers. Yet, there must be a way to see people so as to bring Yosemite home.
There must be a way to encourage and lead others to see human beings more beautiful than mountains, oceans, and fields.
There must be a way to bring Yosemite home, with all its godliness, majesty, and surpassing peace.
How to do this, I have not a clue. I will, in fact, continue pursuing to fulfill my man shivers. But I will also pray and keep my eyes open for the picture of the sun setting behind half dome that dwells in every living beloved child of God.
Yeah I saw the sun set behind half dome and it was incredible.
