This June, an intrepid crew of students and staff from Edgewood College (Madison, WI) and Dominican University (River Forest, IL) set out to encounter God in the “book of creation.” Taking our cue from St. Augustine’s concept of the two books (i.e., understanding both Scripture and the created world as sources of revelation), we spent four days traversing the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin by kayak and on foot.
Our days included prayer, reflection on Dominican spirituality and the pillars, and sharing around the campfire. We marveled at the grandeur of Lake Superior, paddled through sea caves, and even took in a double rainbow on our last evening. We also encountered significant challenges—torrential rain, water too rough to paddle, and clouds of hungry mosquitoes. Our wonderful guides from Wilderness Inquiry (an organization dedicated to making the outdoors accessible to all) kept us safe, well-nourished, and in good spirits.
One participant shared, “Listening to the rain, being under sea caves, being welcomed by the loons, standing beside bodies of water, and walking through the trees was absolutely game changing . . . it helped ground me and see how resilient Mother Nature can be.” Another participant shared, “This trip opened my eyes to what I genuinely want and what I do not. I am learning who I am and who I’d like to be.”
I am delighted to have partnered with these two Sinsinawa Dominican institutions. It is my hope that this trip can continue as a way to nurture our bonds of relationship and spirituality . . . but hopefully with a little less rain and fewer mosquitoes next time!
