How my Religion Effects my Passion - Jonas Miller 04/26

Waking up yesterday morning was an usually easy task due to one activity on the day's agenda: walking through the wilderness in search of native herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians). Such an adventure has been a part of my identity for as long as I can remember. My parents frequently took my brother and I to the outdoors as an easy childcare method, where our objective was the same as it is today. For as long as we could manage, my brother and I would carefully flip most every log and stone in search of whatever snakes, salamanders, or lizards that we could find. At the end of the day, we would typically have about five animals to show for our efforts. Over the course of nearly two decades, my technique has been considerably refined.

Yesterday started with a Southern ring-necked snake and a rough earth snake within 10 minutes of stepping out of the car. The powerline cut in Newport News Park was the main objective, where a black racer was found in the first seconds upon arrival. In a fantastic stroke of luck, a rare rough green snake was found soon after (featured in the picture). By the end of the day, the final count was fantastic. All said eight species of snake were found, featuring the original ring-necked snake, two rough earths, three black racers, the rough green, three eastern worm snakes, one DeKay's brown snake, an Eastern rat snake, and an Eastern garter snake. A number of turtles, lizards, frogs, and a marbled salamander were also found. To say the least, my ten-year-old self would have been thrilled. 


Considering that such an activity is so important to my identity, I can't help but wonder if it has graduated beyond a hobby to a spiritual practice. To say that I am renewed after traveling into the great outdoors is a complete understatement. My entire body, mind, and self are totally at ease during and after the fact, and I often consider how my own Christian upbringing and the themes of appreciating God's creation impact my regular activities. I wouldn't dare say that my religion is based on searching for animals, although appreciating the creatures I find and treating them with the utmost respect certainly is a major theme within my faith. Simply stated, I feel closest to God when immersing myself in His beautiful creation. 

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