Schlepping heavy groceries through this evening’s cold drizzle, one bag aiming haphazardly towards the muddy ground, I was light-heartedly informed by my friend and co-worker, Anna, that my actions “did not appear sustainable!” She then helped me carry the bags the rest of the way.
The word sustainability is used frequently at Wilderness Wind, almost always in the context of environmental sustainability. Wilderness Wind works hard to leave a smaller footprint. A person can’t spend ten minutes at Pine Ridge or Lakeside without seeing signs of this kind of sustainability: compost buckets, recycling bins, reminders about light bulbs and water usage.
There is a different context of sustainability, though, which is also harbored safely here. I will call this personal, spiritual sustainability. This is the magical space where human bonds are nurtured, visitors feel peaceful and relaxed, and a door opens for light and warmth.
light through stained glass
A group of us enjoyed this magical space last night with an impromptu cook-out and sleepover in the yurt at Wilderness Wind’s property on Lake Armstrong. It was not a typical lovely summer evening. As we cooked over our campfire beneath the big birch tree, dark clouds moved towards us across the water. The wind picked up speed. Rain splattered us.
Yet the special magic enveloped us. The yurt welcomed us. Late evening light fell in through the sky light. Looking up, we could hear the wild roar of the wind through the surrounding trees and see the dark branches bending in the wind far above us. But we were protected and together. We sat in the dim glow of the lamps, eating apple cake made in the coals of the fire, and feeling the unique peace that seeps into one’s bones here.
yurt skylight
I can’t name it directly, or explain it completely, but Wilderness Wind offers renewal, which is necessary for a joyful experience of life. This is personal sustainability, and it affects the whole web of being. As a staff member, that magical peace can at times be overlooked behind responsibilities and projects and good old familiarity with the place. However, last night was a delightful injection of all the good things that fill our spirits, renew us, and help us relate more richly with everything and everyone around us.
doing dishes at the yurt
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