Serenity

Sunday October 31 brought a beautiful morning to the Wildlife Drive. There was a chill in the still air, the sky was clear, and the streaming sunlight illuminated the frost clinging to the prairie grasses as though they were lighted from within.

I stopped to chat with one of our regular visitors. We noted that the summer birds were all gone, leaving the refuge particularly quiet, and that on this peaceful morning we hadn't seen much wildlife beyond a collection of trumpeter swans near the entrance and a red tailed hawk stationed in a distant tree.

As we parted the visitor said "It's time to get on with today's dose of serenity. I love this place. It keeps my life from getting too complicated."

Immediately I was reminded that underlying all of our nature-oriented activity is a quest for serenity. We often overlook serenity when we talk about our nature connections, yet it is is the most potent cure nature offers the flagging human spirit.

The dictionary defines serenity as being calm and tranquil. I experience it as a kind of floating above the details of life's busyness, a complete state of relaxation while still being aware of my surroundings but not much else. This is a step beyond the active searching, observing, thinking parts of the mind. Our nature-oriented activities such as hiking, photography, drawing, or driving bring us close enough to serenity that we can feel it rubbing out some of our cares. But true serenity means letting go of even these activities and basking in a feeling of being alone with ones self and being at peace.

So the next time you're driving around fruitlessly searching for a turn-on in a nature venue that really reaches out to you, stop. Try floating in the ambiance of the place. Just enjoy being here at this moment in a place that holds off the bustling concerns of your usual life. With a little exploration you'll probably find a special spot where you can experience serenity at Sherburne Refuge. It will be your secret hide-out from the rest of the world.