My Escape

Everybody needs an escape now and then. The stresses of life build up and then it's time to get away from it. Lots of people turn to drugs and alcohol or video games and movies to get away. As for me and my crew, we go backpacking. The last few weeks haven't exactly been ideal.
Things were going so well then it all hit me like a freight train. First, school has been going well and I was asked by my professor to represent the University of Utah in DC at a Chinese Bridge competition. I took some time to think about it and eventually agreed to do it. Then once I found out that this competition wasn't just for speech but also for performing talent I was on the fence about doing it. Then I was told that the school may not even pay for it so I dropped it. I was quite disappointed about it. On top of that, a few other things weren't working out the way I had hoped. This last week however, I was on a high. The week started out with getting some midterms back that I had been so stressed about. The first one in Classical Chinese, 98%. The second one in Chinese Poetry, 85% (much better than I was anticipating). Wednesday night last week was my ward's temple night. I went and spent 3 hours there; learning and pondering. After leaving I just wanted to fist pump the air and do a heel clicker! The following day, Thursday, I went to school then right after class met up with my cousin Jake and friend Paul and we drove 6 hours to Mule Canyon where we spent the next three days and nights backpacking. There's something about getting out into nature, living amongst raw life and raw creation that brings me so close to my Creator. Nature is my escape. My thoughts become so clear and only focus on the essentials of life. All else fades away and the only thing I focus on is my survival and my relationship with God. This puts things into perspective for me. We often get so caught up in the day to day grind of life that we forget to live, to survive, to grow and develop. I think God created places like Mule Canyon for me. For living deliberately in His creation is what brings me the most joy.