Sun, Moon and Stars
Journal 2006 08 25
Sun, Moon and Stars
For the past two days the men have been slowly making their way downriver. They have been hindered by the storms that bring the high winds that make river travel difficult. Each day the Corps has had to put to shore and wait for the winds to pass. Severe storms and even tornados pass through the plains. I don’t know if any of these storms were of that genre, but they must have pretty extreme to hold up this determined cadre.
Two days ago Clark adds to his “chart” this update, “My Frend Capt Lewis is recoverig fast the hole in his thy where the Ball passed out is Closed and appears to be nearly well. the one where the ball entered discharges very well…”
The men make “ply the oars well” and make forty eight miles today. More than twice their upstream pace. They stop for the night near their camp of September 29th, 1804.
Game has been a little scarce and wary of men. They attribute this to the earlier passing of the Sioux hunting buffalo. They find “pore deer and Elk not so fat.” They also note the several camps or villages of the friendly tribes “interrupted” by the Sioux. The men are alert and their arms are prepared.
Today Clark’s goal is to be at the Cheyenne River before noon, or meridian, as the Captains call it. What they are calling meridian is the apex of the suns arcing path through the daytime sky. Two centuries later most of us have forgotten about those great celestial bodies of ancient travelers throughout time; Sun, Moon and Stars. We look to watch, calendar and GPS for time and place. Some watches now have all three! And that is good. We’ve created a man-made constellation of satellites that allow us precision unthought of only fifty years ago. My now outdated waterproof Magellan Tracker GPS that I found for $1.50 at my local thrift store will get me to within nine feet of my physical location from just about anywhere. Given enough satellites in the sky it will many times have a margin of error of zero!
No one loves modern technology more than me. I get jealous every time I watch an action thriller and some new device allows communication or live satellite video feeds that I want coming into my TV or some device attached to my wrist or belt. However, in putting our trust in the creations of men have we lost our ability to receive the natural guidance provided by sun, moon and stars? I have. I’m trying to learn celestial navigation. It is difficult. I am not a man who by habit spends most of my evenings outdoors looking up and noting the path of the constellations through the night sky. Nor do I rise and sleep by the rhythm of the sun’s rising and falling. I set my dual alarm clock to rouse me. I bet most of us do. I’m not suggesting we move back. I am suggesting we’ve let go of something that should be foundational to our advanced use of gadgets. It’s like enjoying a burger and shake yet not understanding that milk and hamburger come from cows. Time, place and seasons are measured by sun, moon and stars. Watches, calendars and maps simply make observing them simpler and more convenient.
Enjoy the precision and ease of technology. I do. Take the time to understand their underpinnings that you can still live should the gadget fail. Enjoy the cheeseburger and savor the shake. Just don’t get indignant about the meat packing plant killing cattle.
See the rhythm, learn how to find the way and trust in the One Who set it all in place that we might ultimately find Him.
Proceed on.
Sun, Moon and Stars
For the past two days the men have been slowly making their way downriver. They have been hindered by the storms that bring the high winds that make river travel difficult. Each day the Corps has had to put to shore and wait for the winds to pass. Severe storms and even tornados pass through the plains. I don’t know if any of these storms were of that genre, but they must have pretty extreme to hold up this determined cadre.
Two days ago Clark adds to his “chart” this update, “My Frend Capt Lewis is recoverig fast the hole in his thy where the Ball passed out is Closed and appears to be nearly well. the one where the ball entered discharges very well…”
The men make “ply the oars well” and make forty eight miles today. More than twice their upstream pace. They stop for the night near their camp of September 29th, 1804.
Game has been a little scarce and wary of men. They attribute this to the earlier passing of the Sioux hunting buffalo. They find “pore deer and Elk not so fat.” They also note the several camps or villages of the friendly tribes “interrupted” by the Sioux. The men are alert and their arms are prepared.
Today Clark’s goal is to be at the Cheyenne River before noon, or meridian, as the Captains call it. What they are calling meridian is the apex of the suns arcing path through the daytime sky. Two centuries later most of us have forgotten about those great celestial bodies of ancient travelers throughout time; Sun, Moon and Stars. We look to watch, calendar and GPS for time and place. Some watches now have all three! And that is good. We’ve created a man-made constellation of satellites that allow us precision unthought of only fifty years ago. My now outdated waterproof Magellan Tracker GPS that I found for $1.50 at my local thrift store will get me to within nine feet of my physical location from just about anywhere. Given enough satellites in the sky it will many times have a margin of error of zero!
No one loves modern technology more than me. I get jealous every time I watch an action thriller and some new device allows communication or live satellite video feeds that I want coming into my TV or some device attached to my wrist or belt. However, in putting our trust in the creations of men have we lost our ability to receive the natural guidance provided by sun, moon and stars? I have. I’m trying to learn celestial navigation. It is difficult. I am not a man who by habit spends most of my evenings outdoors looking up and noting the path of the constellations through the night sky. Nor do I rise and sleep by the rhythm of the sun’s rising and falling. I set my dual alarm clock to rouse me. I bet most of us do. I’m not suggesting we move back. I am suggesting we’ve let go of something that should be foundational to our advanced use of gadgets. It’s like enjoying a burger and shake yet not understanding that milk and hamburger come from cows. Time, place and seasons are measured by sun, moon and stars. Watches, calendars and maps simply make observing them simpler and more convenient.
Enjoy the precision and ease of technology. I do. Take the time to understand their underpinnings that you can still live should the gadget fail. Enjoy the cheeseburger and savor the shake. Just don’t get indignant about the meat packing plant killing cattle.
See the rhythm, learn how to find the way and trust in the One Who set it all in place that we might ultimately find Him.
Proceed on.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 3:15 PM
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