travelterp: 09/02/14

While I was waiting for my flight back to the village, I got offered the opportunity to jump on a plane to join the bear tour. I did not hesitate and was so excited that I was going to have this wonderful opportunity.

I was excited to see the wild animals... watching them survive in their habitat as they start to get ready for hibernation. It was truly amazing to watch them sit so patiently and wait till they find a fish and run it down till they get it. There were a couple times when the bears would lose the fish and you would want try to mentally encourage them to keep going and don't give up.

The more I thought about how amazing these creatures are with their patience and skill, I started to think how it is so applicable in our everyday life. How many times do we get so close to something, but lose sight in the hustle of everything? How many times do we rush the process and not sit back patiently and wait for the opportunities to present themselves?

We as humans have so much to learn from mother nature. Not saying that we need to take on all of their characteristics, but some of the qualities like patience, determination, hard work, survival, and the ability to take in the beautiful outdoors
are all characteristics that should be looked upon very highly.

One of the conversations that took place within the group while we were out on the sand bar was based on the question: How many years do cubs stay with their mama?
The answer being they stay till they are about 3 or 4. Then the Mama kicks them out. One of the moms in the group was very concerned about this until it was applied to our lives. Most of us kiddos stay with our parents until it is time for us to go off to college or take that next step in life. The same thing applies for these adorable fur balls. The siblings will stick together for a short time after mama kicks them out, but they too will eventually separate and start their own paths.

The more I see of this beautiful state, the more and more I fall in love. I truly suggest that everyone find the time to take a trip up here and see all of God's beauty. It will really help one reconnect to what is important in life and not to take it for granted. If you can't fid the time or resources to come up here to this beautiful state, everyone has hidden gems in their own areas. I challenge you all to find them. Make time and be in the moment of God's beautiful work.