I returned to the north country of Minnesota this week for a few nights to visit Gretchen and explore the "other side" of the BWCA. Gunflint lake and Gunflint Lodge sit on the US-Canadian border, overlooking the '99 blow down and 2007 Ham Lake fire remnants, the area lacks the great white and red pine forests that tower around Ely. But its an area that shows the true nature of the area (pun intended,) and how resilient and perfected the ecosystem is for growing back fast after a burn. Gretchen and I aren't much for cushy lodges though, and we fund our selves paddling around a near peninsula to a campsite where we would stay. In the heat of a summer day, we sat on the birch tree bench behind the fire grate drying off from a swim, there was a little breeze coming across the sky blew water cooling our fronts as the sun baked our backs. We sat their, not saying much, both more lost in our own thoughts, and I found myself focused on a rock just off the shore that was sticking out of the water. Everyone has heard the saying about throwing a rock into a pond, but this rock was different than the one thrown. This rock was already in the pond, it had already made its ripples, it was now firmly fixed in its place. The pond, or 8 mile long, 200 ft deep Gunflint lake, was sending its own splashes back on the rock. Yet the rock, solid where it stood, still sent reciprocated ripples back into the constant motion of the lake. It got me thinking for the rest of the day...
Later Gretchen showed me one of her favorite spots, Look Out Point. It was just a short hike from the lodge and sat atop a granite cliff over the lake and ancient hills. We talked about life and goals, ideas on it all and then the spot sort of took over and we just meditated, totally zoned out. The rock came back to mind as I gazed over the peninsula we were camped on:
The rock is you, each and every day.
The lake was the stimulus we receive from our lives: family, friends, strangers, work, school, weather, everything good and bad, anything that can affect us- that splashes up against us. The waves are how we react to it all, what we give back, what kind of "vibes" we put back into the world. Its our perception of the world. Will our ripples back be big or small, positive or negative? Its a constant play of giving and receiving in life, a true lesson in "give and you shall receive," "love thy neighbor"- just being and doing things positively makes such a huge step towards being happy and successful. It takes a bit of reflection and humility to do so, but it can turn into a domino effect. One nice gesture leads to another, leads to a new friend or exciting experience, or good connection to a better job, a new fishing spot, whatever life throws at you...how are you going to receive it? What will you give back? How are you going to live your life?
A friendly wave, a smile and nod, a simple question, holding a door- start with small waves and see what comes from it. You may be surprised.
