Nate Morris - The Outer Banks

Growing up in the suburbs of Washington DC, I became used to the perfectly manicured lawns and shrubbery, tree lined streets, and unnaturally green grass that encompassed the neighborhoods. It was a way of life to go without being connected to the grander scheme of things, to be consistently taken aback by the sighting of any form of wild creature, be it deer or fox or hedgehog. As housing developments frequently replaced wooded areas, and roadways cut through what had previously been rolling green hills, I grew accustomed to living in a concrete jungle where the songs of birds were drowned out by the roar of engines and the bright, sunny days were hampered by the smog that painted a light shade of gray over the blue sky. Perhaps it was because of a lack of understanding and appreciation for the sacred places that had been absent for much of my childhood, or perhaps it was because of the notion that had been ingrained in me that the new developments were more beautiful and astounding than any field or forest could ever hope to be, but my reverence for nature as a whole was greatly diminished. It was not until a morning when I stood on a sand dune overlooking the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean that I was able to put these previous ideas behind me and focus on the beauty, holiness, and sacredness that all of the natural world had to offer. I recall watching as the sun rose on a crisp fall morning in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and, in witnessing the enormity of the moment, I felt so insignificant yet so privileged to have witnessed such an encapsulating event. Much of the time I spent in that concrete jungle, I was unable to connect with the world on a spiritual level, as it was only when I traveled beyond the bounds of the metropolitan region that I was could fully comprehend the grandeur of God’s design for the world and my place in it. It was the ability to escape urbanism and witness the rising or setting of the sun over a horizon, or the slow progression of fog and mist over the peaks of mountaintops, that I was able to finally take it all in. Had the opportunity to go beyond the day to day norm, to leave the suburbs for a time not presented itself, I have no doubt that my ability to fully respect the power and beauty of nature would never have been realized.