Chris Yencha, Outside Reading 1

I will apologize ahead of time for my outside reading selections. Given the amount of work that I have this semester, I have had little time to read for pleasure; however, I did read one book that I thoroughly enjoyed and finally finished the 600 page mammoth about a week ago. A History of Interest Rates by Sidney Homer was a very 'interest'ing (Yeah, I totally made that joke) book. The earliest parts of the history I found particularly fascinating. Did you know that loans existed about 2 thousand years before barter? For instance, let's assume your yard is full of leaves and you have company coming over this evening. You have no rake to use to dispose of the leaves but you are so concerned with getting rid of the mess that you walk over to your neighbor's house and ask to borrow a rake. Your neighbor is extending a loan to you when he allows you to borrow his rake. He expects only two things in return: 1.) The rake back in a timely manner in an equivalent condition and 2.) The understood condition that if he ever needs to borrow a rake from you (or any other item within reason) that he is welcome and allowed. Expectation #2 is particularly interesting because it suggests that credit may exist without being clearly defined and is what works to help prove the existence of loans before barter.

Diana Cox: Walkng with Freedom

The movie called Walking with Freedom gave me a new perspective on the way hikers interact with their surroundings and each other. One hiker named Lion King filmed his journey across the USA via the Appalachian Trail, which is over 2,000 miles. His documentary shows his own personal difficulties moving through the trail but also the beautiful creation God has made on this world. Lion King gives the world a window's view into the world of hikers. These unique people who hike the AT have a different culture and society. There are no socioeconomic classes, there are only people going in the same direction for different reasons. Many hike for the challenge, some just for inspiration and some hike to feel connected to the natural world. The hikers that chose this adventure are disconnected from society and the mundane things of life and are able to relate to each other and nature on a different realm than usual. These people find friends and even mates for life along their journey through nature. Lion King not only films the trail itself but also the communitias of the trail. There are many buildings and tents set up along the way for people to rest and eat. Lion King gives a inside view of these places and how they create a part of communitas on the trail, by providing for others. Moreover, Lion King shows how people face different challenges on the trail such as bug bites. Lion King covers all the different aspects of his adventure in hiking and finishing the AT including everyone who made a impact on his journey.

Tray Norman Cold Fever

The movie cold fever was an excellent film that integrated Lane's idea of a sacred place by showing the importance of landscape. Hirata endured a spiritual journey when his grandpa suggested he cancel his vacation to go to Iceland in honor of his parents. They drowned there seven years before and this is a significant event in Japanese culture. He must perform a ceremony in the river that they died in because surviving family members bring peace. The role of landscape throughout the movie helps the viewers grasp the sacredness of his journey. When he traveled into the remote mountain village where his parents died, it takes him farther from civilization. The landscape of the place symbolized the opposite of what Hirata was custom to. It was isolated from the busy world and created a peaceful yet different feeling to Hirata. The "funeral collector" he meets on his route named Laura goes all over the world to photograph and record death ceremonies which is ironic. Also, another part of landscape on his journey that is a distinct feature is how the Iceland roads go around "fairy stones" as the trickster couple referred to them. This resembles country roads that have dog legs and curves built around important places. Interstates are the most efficient way of transportation in a car, which would be Hirata's normal lifestyle. With him traveling on this type of road, his life is laid back and in no hurry which is how sacred places are.

Tray Norman Lane's Three Approaches

Lane offers three different ways to interpret a sacred place. The first is the ontological approach which states that a sacred place is radically set apart from everything profane. To me this means the place is completely secluded from everything irrelovant to it. Human activity is often not involved in a sacred place so that people can enjoy and engulf themselves in its naturalness. Visitors can perceive the dynamics of a sacred place from "within." It fails to recognize that relgion and culture are overlapping dimensions of human experience. The second is the cultural approach. Every human attribution of sacrality is always a social construction of reality. This helps religion to not be the sole reason a place provides a transcendent experience. Sometimes social and cultural analysis has the tendancy to discount the significance of "place" itself. It fails to recognize that place itself is a participant in forming the experience. The third is the phenomenological approach. This states that places themselves participate in the perception that is made of them. You must recognize and be involved in touching and being touched by the rocks, trees, and geographical features. Places perceive themselves through people, just as people do.

Tray Norman Lane's Four Axioms

The four axioms discussed in Lane's book help the reader understand the character of a sacred place. The first one states that a sacred place is not chosen, it chooses. It's like the place seeks you out, and it is the construction of the imagination that makes it holy. It's where god chooses to reveal himself. You can come across a clearing in the woods when you're lost and it can become sacred. The second is that a sacred place it an ordinary place, ritually made extraordinary. Some places are recognized as sacred because of certain ritual acts performed there, setting it apart as unique. The ritual act that could occur in the clearing in the woods could be the act of silence. The third is a sacred place can be tred upon without being entered. This means that a place can exist without being ontologically recognized. It is sacred because of the consciousness related to the visitor. The clearing in the woods has been passed through by many, but it is especially sacred to a person who is lost. The fourth is the impulse of sacred place is both centripetal and centrifugal, local and universal. There is movement between the everyday life and the sacred. Sacred places have the ability to pull you away from busy life, and guarantee the everlasting presence of peace.

Adam Baker: Choice Topic--Finding my Sacred Place in the Sky

The majesty of flight never ceases to captivate my mind and provides an escape from the trials and tribulations of daily life. Breaking the bounds of gravity and soaring through brilliant blue upon a pillow of meandering cumulus simply cannot be replicated. On October 24, I had the opportunity to take multiple flights across the northeastern United States between cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. For me, the thrill of taking flight is never-ending, and my trip reaffirmed that the skies can truly be a sacred place. Staring intently across the western horizon from my perch of 35,000 feet, I watched through broken clouds as the dark landscape below became richly illuminated by the rising sun from the east. How beautiful the new day was beginning. Clouds turned from vibrant orange to purest white and began to thicken on descent into Boston. For a few moments the aircraft skimmed their tops, almost hesitating to descend into the dark uncertainty below from clear, loftier places. Only moments prior to arrival did the plane emerge from its dense encasement, followed by a landing that brought me back down to reality. A bit later, I once more took to the skies, this time en route to Philadelphia. The ascent was quite rough as the aircraft climbed out of the weather and into less turbulent conditions. It is always quite remarkable to break into beautiful skies after being buffeted around by powerful storm patterns on climb-out. During the flight I realized that New York City was likely just a short distance off the right wing beneath the blanket of clouds. How was the day progressing there? I could only imagine the hustle and bustle thousands of feet below as I enjoyed the peacefulness of being one with the sky--man witnessing incredible interaction between nature and machine. How calm the world seemed. It seemed we were hardly moving--serenely suspended in limitless atmosphere--yet our ground speed was far closer to the speed of sound. Silently cutting through the sky, leaving one place behind and headed toward another, the aircraft would soon reunite some people and separate others--each placing great trust into the technological marvel carrying them through the natural elements. What a simple, yet complex, equation. The plane raced on, soon nearing its top of descent off the New Jersey coast. Then came one of the most incredible views I have ever experienced. Off the right wing, a circle of light reached from the broken cloud layer to the Atlantic. These incredible pillars were rays of sun filtering through the atmosphere. As if the scene was not brilliant enough, the aircraft produced a shadow on the cloud bank below surrounded by a prism of light. I photographed the scene extensively, but then simply stared in awe at the beauty. What other place could produce such magnificence? The sky was alive and speaking in a brilliant vibrance of light, and I felt included in that incredible conversation between sun, sky, clouds, and ground. Banking over the coastline, the aircraft followed vectors for its descent and landing, and we again returned to a dismal, dreary place. How quickly such a powerful, captivating image had disappeared into nothing but a memory. Returning to the real world, the plane touched down in Philadelphia, and I was flooded with emotion. The sky had undoubtedly proved a sacred place--a place of peace and connection with something greater than myself. How quickly I had left that place, but I shall return again another day--a new day with new altitudes to which I shall climb and new interactions in which I shall take part.

Adam Baker: Outdoors Experience--Searching for Serenity in the New Hampshire Landscape

New England is renowned for its beautiful fall foliage that blankets mountains as far as the eye can see. I was fortunate to travel to New Hampshire’s White Mountains during the peak of autumn colors, and the scenery certainly fulfilled its reputation. Upon arrival, I anticipated spending some time pondering in the quiet woods filled with oranges, reds, and yellows; however, I was greeted not with the solitude of nature, but throngs of tourists vying for views of the scenery. My hopes of embarking upon a peaceful walk through woods in solitude drifted away like falling leaves caught in a gust of wind. After traveling to various locations, it became clear that nowhere in the White Mountains would offer an escape from the crowds. I finally completed one hike to a series of waterfalls and was rewarded by a walk through beautiful yellow and orange trees highlighted by rays of sun breaking through the morning’s clouds. Unfortunately, I was in the company of an unstoppable flow of other visitors, degrading the experience. Disappointingly, the day concluded with no opportunity to experience nature without interruption or distraction. The following morning, however, arrived with beautiful skies and crisp, cool air—perfect for another attempt to join the awesome autumn presentation of nature. A short drive from the hotel led to an unimproved road terminating at a small parking area near the top of a mountain. It was truly exciting to see that only several other vehicles were present. A short trail directly through the colorful forest led to an exposed rock area overlooking miles of terrain below. The best part—no one else was present. Beautiful it was, indeed, with fall foliage, blue lakes, and other mountains visible for an incredible distance and accented by the crystal-blue of cloudless sky. Unexpectedly, I found my place of peace in this natural setting and become one with the trees, the leaves, and the ground. I stood mesmerized by the falling leaves behind me and the tremendous view in front. How surreal everything seemed—just a short while earlier, I had been far below, disappointed at the overall lack of serenity and unaware of the great views to be had from above. Now, serenity was an understatement, as the setting and the view were no less than sublime—an indication of nature’s majesty and perpetual beauty. The short hike was outstanding to say the least, and made me realize just how much distractions, such as other people, can divert attention away from the magnificence of our natural surroundings. Needless to say, in one moment I had experienced the very power of the landscape I had come to find.