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Just before Labor Day weekend I decided to get one more hike in for the summer. There was already a hint of fall in the mountain air and I knew I had a busy schedule for the next couple weeks so it seemed like a perfect time to reenter my sanctuary. For the hike itself I chose Lake Haiyaha as my destination because I love exploring the Chaos Canyon where this lake sits. We got an early start and the morning was clear and cool. As we drew closer to Nymph Lake we passed through a large stand of Ponderosa pines. Suddenly the people I was with stopped and got very quiet. I inquired as to what was going on and was informed two grouse were not ten feet away from us. The birds were just standing there apparently untroubled by the close proximity of the humans. We gazed at these fascinating birds for nearly ten minutes and not once did the birds appear bothered or afraid of us. Such brave little creatures! After a time we continued on our hike, leaving the grouse in peace to continue on in whatever their task was this day. As we trekked on to Haiyaha I found myself in a state of awe about the courageous little grouse.
I have once heard it said that fear is one of the most contagious and crippling diseases that a person an ever encounter. It robs us of good judgment and can make a bad situation worse. What I have noticed though is that the wild has no fear, only a sense of caution. Caution that keeps an animal from danger. Caution that helps preserve the animal’s young. Perhaps caution is not even the right term; instead let us simply call it common sense. The grouse we encountered this day did not flee because it did not feel threatened. Had any of our group attempted to approach the grouse directly they most certainly would have taken flight. No doubt the grouse kept us in their sight as they could not immediately know our intentions. I have seen this same characteristic in many different wild animals back when I could see. Courage is what I saw then and is what I still see today. Many times in life we will find ourselves in situations where we are afraid but do we let that fear rule us? We overcome our fear with that same sense of courage that has guided so many to greatness. We mentally or even verbally tell that which is trying to induce the fear into us that we, not they, control our destiny. Courage is what will carry us through a dangerous situation. Courage is what will help us overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in life. Courage is what gives us the strength to realize our dreams. The young athlete practices hard so they may excel in their sport. The soldier braves enemy fire to save his comrade. The dying man stares death in the eye and enjoys the time he has with his family instead of worrying about the inevitable. Of course we calculate the risks and attempt to set what we know to be somewhat realistic goals. But through all those calculations and attention to realism we must still have that courage to push ourselves as far as think we can and then further still! Courage took man up Mt. Everest and to the moon. Imagine where courage can take you. Have also the courage to help others realize their dreams and overcome their fears. If you allow your fear for their wellbeing to show then you run the risk of infecting them with this terrible virus and a dream or goal can be lost. I do not want someone to tell me how dangerous it is to climb the mountains and attempt to discourage me. Rather, I want them to be brave and encourage me so that I may share third courageous spirit.
As we hike on I am overcome by a sense of amazement. In such a small creature I have witnessed something miraculous. The spirit of the grouse is in me now and I feel that much worthier to stand tall and proud next to those wild fearless animals that are my teachers and companions. ust before Labor Day weekend I decided to get one more hike in for the summer. There was already a hint of fall in the mountain air and I knew I had a busy schedule for the next couple weeks so it seemed like a perfect time to reenter my sanctuary. For the hike itself, I chose Lake Haiyaha as my destination because I love exploring the Chaos Canyon where this lake sits.
We got an early start and the morning was clear and cool. As we drew closer to Nymph Lake we passed through a large stand of Ponderosa pines. Suddenly the people I was with stopped and got very quiet. I inquired as to what was going on and was informed two grouse were not ten feet away from us. The birds were just standing there apparently untroubled by the close proximity of the humans. We gazed at these fascinating birds for nearly ten minutes and not once did the birds appear bothered or afraid of us. Such brave little creatures! After a time we continued on our hike, leaving the grouse in peace to continue on in whatever their task was this day.
As we trekked on to Haiyaha I found myself in a state of awe about the courageous little grouse. I have once heard it said that fear is one of the most contagious and crippling diseases that a person can ever encounter. It robs us of good judgment and can make a bad situation worse. What I have noticed though is that the wild has no fear, only a sense of caution. Caution that keeps an animal from danger. Caution that helps preserve the animal’s young. Perhaps caution is not even the right term; instead let us simply call it common sense. The grouse we encountered this day did not flee because it did not feel threatened. Had any of our group attempted to approach the grouse directly they most certainly would have taken flight. No doubt the grouse kept us in their sight as they could not immediately know our intentions. I have seen this same characteristic in many different wild animals back when I could see.
Courage is what I saw then and is what I still see today. Many times in life we will find ourselves in situations where we are afraid, but do we let that fear rule us? We overcome our fear with that same sense of courage that has guided so many to greatness. We mentally or even verbally tell that which is trying to induce the fear into us that we, not they, control our destiny. Courage is what will carry us through a dangerous situation. Courage is what will help us overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in life. Courage is what gives us the strength to realize our dreams. The young athlete practices hard so they may excel in their sport. The soldier braves enemy fire to save his comrade. The dying man stares death in the eye and enjoys the time he has with his family instead of worrying about the inevitable. Of course we calculate the risks and attempt to set what we know to be somewhat realistic goals. But through all those calculations and attention to realism we must still have that courage to push ourselves as far as we think we can and then further still! Courage took a man up Mt. Everest and to the moon. Imagine where courage can take you. Have also the courage to help others realize their dreams and overcome their fears. If you allow your fear for their wellbeing to show, then you run the risk of infecting them with this terrible virus and a dream or goal can be lost. I do not want someone to tell me how dangerous it is to climb the mountains and attempt to discourage me. Rather, I want them to be brave and encourage me so that I may share third courageous spirit.
As we hiked on I am overcome by a sense of amazement. In such a small creature I had witnessed something miraculous. The spirit of the grouse is in me now and I feel that much worthier to stand tall and proud next to those wild fearless animals that are my teachers and companions.
As we hike on I am overcome by a sense of amazement. In such a small creature I have witnessed something miraculous. The spirit of the grouse is in me now and I feel that much worthier to stand tall and proud next to those wild fearless animals that are my teachers and companions. ust before Labor Day weekend I decided to get one more hike in for the summer. There was already a hint of fall in the mountain air and I knew I had a busy schedule for the next couple weeks so it seemed like a perfect time to reenter my sanctuary. For the hike itself, I chose Lake Haiyaha as my destination because I love exploring the Chaos Canyon where this lake sits.
We got an early start and the morning was clear and cool. As we drew closer to Nymph Lake we passed through a large stand of Ponderosa pines. Suddenly the people I was with stopped and got very quiet. I inquired as to what was going on and was informed two grouse were not ten feet away from us. The birds were just standing there apparently untroubled by the close proximity of the humans. We gazed at these fascinating birds for nearly ten minutes and not once did the birds appear bothered or afraid of us. Such brave little creatures! After a time we continued on our hike, leaving the grouse in peace to continue on in whatever their task was this day.
As we trekked on to Haiyaha I found myself in a state of awe about the courageous little grouse. I have once heard it said that fear is one of the most contagious and crippling diseases that a person can ever encounter. It robs us of good judgment and can make a bad situation worse. What I have noticed though is that the wild has no fear, only a sense of caution. Caution that keeps an animal from danger. Caution that helps preserve the animal’s young. Perhaps caution is not even the right term; instead let us simply call it common sense. The grouse we encountered this day did not flee because it did not feel threatened. Had any of our group attempted to approach the grouse directly they most certainly would have taken flight. No doubt the grouse kept us in their sight as they could not immediately know our intentions. I have seen this same characteristic in many different wild animals back when I could see.
Courage is what I saw then and is what I still see today. Many times in life we will find ourselves in situations where we are afraid, but do we let that fear rule us? We overcome our fear with that same sense of courage that has guided so many to greatness. We mentally or even verbally tell that which is trying to induce the fear into us that we, not they, control our destiny. Courage is what will carry us through a dangerous situation. Courage is what will help us overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in life. Courage is what gives us the strength to realize our dreams. The young athlete practices hard so they may excel in their sport. The soldier braves enemy fire to save his comrade. The dying man stares death in the eye and enjoys the time he has with his family instead of worrying about the inevitable. Of course we calculate the risks and attempt to set what we know to be somewhat realistic goals. But through all those calculations and attention to realism we must still have that courage to push ourselves as far as we think we can and then further still! Courage took a man up Mt. Everest and to the moon. Imagine where courage can take you. Have also the courage to help others realize their dreams and overcome their fears. If you allow your fear for their wellbeing to show, then you run the risk of infecting them with this terrible virus and a dream or goal can be lost. I do not want someone to tell me how dangerous it is to climb the mountains and attempt to discourage me. Rather, I want them to be brave and encourage me so that I may share third courageous spirit.
As we hiked on I am overcome by a sense of amazement. In such a small creature I had witnessed something miraculous. The spirit of the grouse is in me now and I feel that much worthier to stand tall and proud next to those wild fearless animals that are my teachers and companions.
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