The light flickered off of the red tarp that was keeping the rain at bay. The tarp was supported by a rainbow of oars we’d been using on the rafts today. The lantern’s light bounced most brightly off of the yellow oar which served to highlight the blue and green colors of the other two oars that were also serving as trusses to our makeshift shelter. Thunder boomed and lightening danced on the near horizon. Dinner had been eaten and the campfire was burning as brightly as the drinks of vodka we’d just had. Alexi and Sasha were taking turns with the guitar. Each with songs to sing. Songs sung in Russian. Songs older than any of us sitting around the fire. Songs connecting today with the ideals valued in the Russian “spirit”.
The environment is so important to the experience of my ideals. It can appear spontaneously like it did that evening on the River Luh. And, if we are paying attention, we can have a hand in mindfully creating an environment that supports our ideals.
When we speak of being centered we often don’t take into account the impact we have on our environment. We most often center as a way of responding and adapting to our environment. We can also center our environment. Center it so that it too supports who we are and how we are.
The guitar on the river was not an accidental occurrence. With this group it was an intentionally included part of the equipment necessary for the success of the trip. It was as necessary as the tarp, the oars and the raft. It was included to help shape the environment to more ideally support the experience of coming together as a team.
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