God and Nature Winter 2021
Photo Essay: Conversing with Nature |
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By Thomas Jay Oord (Fall 2012)
Beginning in late spring 2012, I hiked Hell’s Canyon, the Owyhee mountains, sections of the Owyhee river canyon, Craters of the Moon, City of Rocks, around Bear Lake, and along the base of the Tetons.
With camera in hand, I made some great photos of the landscapes and animals I encountered.
With camera in hand, I made some great photos of the landscapes and animals I encountered.
The diverse terrain and important landmarks along the trail are impressive. Hikers walk deserted landscapes along the Jarbidge and Bruneau canyons up to the Snake River and the old Oregon Trail.
The diverse terrain and important landmarks along the trail are impressive. Hikers walk deserted landscapes along the Jarbidge and Bruneau canyons up to the Snake River and the old Oregon Trail.
The trail moves northward through 11 national forests. Three hundred miles of the trail meander through the two largest designated wilderness areas in the lower 48 states – the Frank Church and Selway-Bitterroot.
Most of my hike occurred on the Idaho Centennial Trail. Few people know of this trail; even fewer have hiked it end to end. Only a handful of folks have hiked the trail’s length in one summer, beginning at the Nevada/Idaho border near Murphy Hot Springs and ending at the Canada/Idaho border north of Priest Lake.
What made my adventure particularly unique was the amount and weight of the photography equipment I carried...
But carrying that equipment was worth it for the photos I was able to make.
I can relate to Ansel Adams who said, “Sometimes I get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter.”
I developed a habit of talking to the animals I met on my journey. Just about every conversation began with “Hello, friend.”
I started thinking maybe St. Francis of Assisi had some insight after all. Francis is the Christian saint best known for preaching to animals.
I didn’t do any preaching. But I found talking to Idaho’s creatures in friendly words and tones made a difference.
It changed not only how I thought about the creatures I encountered, but I really felt like many of the creatures responded to me in a more friendly way than they otherwise might have.
One of my favorite theologians, Sallie McFague, talks about the kind of “eye” we use to see nature. She says the arrogant eye sees nature as an object. The object is out there for me, for my pleasure and use.
By contrast, the loving eye thinks in terms of a subject knowing another subject. This kind of knowing is the basis of friendship. The loving eye offers friendship, even to the natural world.
“The answer must be, I think, that beauty and grace are performed whether or not we will or sense them. The least we can do is try to be there.” ― Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. Oord is an award-winning author, having written or edited more than twenty books. Oord is also an accomplished photographer and gifted speaker. He is known for contributions to research on love, open and relational theology, science and religion, and the implications of freedom and relationships for transformation.
Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. Oord is an award-winning author, having written or edited more than twenty books. Oord is also an accomplished photographer and gifted speaker. He is known for contributions to research on love, open and relational theology, science and religion, and the implications of freedom and relationships for transformation.