Religion ???????

Henner Pond

The End of Lever Hill Rd.

The 'Henner Pond' photo was taken Opening Day of Archery Season for Whitetail Deer. I spent that morning and afternoon, sitting on the top of the hill, in the woods to the left. I watched the sunrise and the sunset. That day, from my blind, I managed to anger some red squirrels, see a flock of Wild Turkey forage past, watched many Does and a Spike Buck, graze across the field. Never knocked an arrow and never had a shot, but it's a day I will never forget.

The second photo was taken a couple weeks later at the other end of Lever Hill Rd. This is Fall in the Southern Tier of New York State. The Pennsylvania State Line is about 15 miles away. I believe that this is some of the most beautiful country around. My Friend owns property here. I get to spend time here, in solitude. I enjoy hunting and fishing. I am not a very successful hunter or fisherman, but I enjoy the experience.

I am lucky enough to have land to hunt on, in the Southern Tier and in Northern New York inside the Adirondak State Park. The cabin in the Adirondak Mountains is 10 miles off of the nearest Highway. We lease the land from a logging company which is part of 50,000 acres. If you want to be alone, THIS is the place to go. We call the cabin 'The Taj'. I try to get up there alone, but also enjoy when any of the other 5 members are there. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to get to within 1/3 of a mile from the cabin. I don't have a 4WD or an ATV so when I go there alone, I have to pack in all my food, drink and gear. It's work that I enjoy. To be so far away from the nearest human being, and in a place where you may not be at the top of the food chain, is a feeling that is hard to discribe. The property in the Southern Tier is much more accessable and is less than 15 minutes from town but when you get back to the camp area, you can be in solitude.

In my life, and from my experiences, I find it hard to believe in a God. I do not have anything against anyone who believes there is a God. In fact, I think for some people it is a very good thing for them. Just don't try to push it on me. I have read about most of the major religions and the closest thing I have come to how I feel is what the Native American Indians believed. They basically believed in an 'Earth Mother'. She is not to be abused. Never take anything that you don't need or take more than you need. Always be thankful for what is given to you and give back to the earth. Before Europeans came here, they did not believe that ANYONE owned the land. If anything the land and the things on it, owned you. What the Europeans and thier Gods dubbed 'Savages' were a peacful people who lived the life of Mother Earth. Now after some several centuries of raping the planet, many are starting to believe that their idea may have been a good one.

As I stated above, I do not believe in a God. The closet thing that I have in my life that could be considered a religious experience is when I am sitting in the woods, or on the lake, with no one around. Eventually I get to a point where my mind stops thinking and the only thing that I am aware of is what I can see, feel, hear and smell. Now THAT is livin'......