A small group of us gather in a circle in the lobby of an old historic Inn on the edge of the Huron Mountains here in Northern Michigan. Among us are three social workers, a retired physician, a writer, a nurse, a retired firefighter, four clergy. We’re exploring our various experiences of being personally lost over the years. Physically. Emotionally. Spiritually. There’s plenty to talk about.
As our point of reference, we’re using the insights of Lawrence Gonzales. In 1989 he published “Deep Survival.” The author was fascinated by why some individuals find their way out after being lost in wilderness areas. And why others don’t. Gonzales did his homework with plenty of statistics, anecdotes, and bone-chilling narratives. Two conclusions deserve pondering.
First, he suggests that each of us carry “mind-maps” about how to move about in this world. We apply them, often unconsciously, to the many different environments we encounter. Most of the time, thankfully, on one level or another, they work for us. Sometimes they don’t. Studies and experience taught him, contrary to what we might think, those who we regard as experts often find themselves in trouble. There’s a simple reason: they think they know too much. Gonzales surprises readers by telling us the evidence suggests that small children, ages 5–8, when lost often do better. More open-minded and curious, they’re aware of their need to take a rest, to look around.
When our mind-map is too rigid, Gonzales says, there are occasions in the wilderness when individuals, following periods of panic and frantic movement, just shut down. Days later, their bodies are found lifeless with provisions, food, and water still in their backpacks. What happened? Gonzales says they “broke” psychologically, emotionally. Death then followed, after slipping, unexpectedly, into frightening spirals of confusion and despair.
There’s another, perhaps even more insightful, startling observation by Gonzales about those who survive. He notes how, even in the most terrifying of times and circumstances, they are able to find beauty: a single moment of clarity, the sound of a fluttering bird’s wing, the refection of sunlight on glacial ice. When survivors are found, they often tell their rescuers, who find it difficult to appreciate, about accounts of such beauty and peace.
Just this week, our local newspaper related the story of a 2-year-old lost in the forest 60 miles southwest of here, not far from the Wisconsin-Michigan border. She was reported missing at 8 P.M. The toddler had wandered of from her family’s rural home. A search and rescue team was immediately mobilized. Drones, state police, and neighbors were involved in the search.
Volunteers found her around midnight, three miles away, deep in the forest. They reported she was asleep, her head resting on one of the two family’s dogs. The English Springer Spaniel served as her pillow. Next to them was the family Rottweiler, lying alongside her in guardian mode.
Fall 2023 Equinox Newsletter
CONTENTS
JOURNAL NOTES
Outreach
Former wild land firefighter Jeff Noble and the CTI Director presented a program on “The Gift of Water” to members and friends of the Crystal Falls Senior Center on 9/11 at Fortune Lake. Tibetan prayer fags, a gift from us to the Fortune Lake Camp staff and community, hung from the cafeteria’s ceiling. Tanks to Ruth Warmanen for planning this event!
Mental Health
On August 18-19, Mike Grossman invited the CTI Director to join him for a day of clinical service at the Great Lakes Recovery Center in Sault Ste Marie. Mike, a family physician, serves as medical director for GLRC and also for one of two Marquette County hospice agencies. The experience underscored for me the challenge of substance abuse and the importance of healing communities in addressing one of the most important of Upper Michigan’s serious, life-threatening health issues.
PROJECTS & PRESENTATIONS
The Return
On October 25, 2023, a 22-minute documentary film “The Return” will be shown at 6:30 P.M. at the Marquette Regional History Center. Five Native American representatives from the Museum of Ojibwa History are traveling from Mackinaw County to be with us. This remarkable film by Makari Rising is an account of the return and reburial of Fr. Jacques Marquette’s bones in 2022. Back to their original 1675 burial site there on the shores of Lake Huron at the Straits of Mackinac.
Men’s Retreat
Thanks to colleague and good friend Lee Goodwin for co-facilitating the upcoming men’s retreat on October 20-21 in Crystal Falls. Co-sponsored by CTI and the Northern Great Lakes Synod of the ELCA . Our topic is “Riding the Tiger: Spirituality in the Second Half of Life.” Our appreciation to Bishop Katherine Finegan, Ken Kelley, and Jim Duehring for their support and assistance.
The Mystery of Trees
An Institute retreat on ecology and spirituality took place from 9/13-9/16 in Big Bay, Michigan. Fourteen individuals from 3 states joined a botanist, poet, forester, mycologist, and musician to explore the many dimensions of a living forest. Thanks to Ruth, Kent, Jeff, Joe, Michael, Jan, Makari, and Kathleen for serving as guides and teachers.
Healing the Earth
In partnership with the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, youth from Faith Lutheran Church in Mason, Iowa, and volunteers from the Marquette Choral Society, 1200 Northern white cedar trees were blessed and prayerfully planted this summer. During those Saturday mornings, lyrics from Paul Winter’s song, “Home to the Blue Green Hills of Earth” drifted up gently among the forest overstory surrounding Lost Creek and Yellow Dog River.
“Gift of Water,” 2nd Printing
We are delighted to announce “The Gif of Water: Ecology, Art, and the Spiritual Life” books are now available at Snowbound Books and the Marquette Regional History Center in Marquette. They can also be ordered via the CTI website at cedartreeinstitute.org/shop/.
This is a collection of 45 essays, edited by Buddhist priest Paul Lehmberg, written over the last six years by 45 different authors from all walks of life. It is a result of the Interfaith Water Stewards Initiative 2016–2022.
The Cedar Tree Institute, a nonprofit organization provides services and initiates projects between boundaries of medical institutions, faith communities, American Indian tribes and social action movements. One-third of our services are provided pro-bono.
CTI BOARD
- Jon Magnuson, CTI Executive Director
- Steve Mattson, Financial Consultant, Wells Fargo Private Client Services, Retired
- Jim Elder, Attorney
ADVISORY COUNCIL
- Larry Skendzel, Physician, Hospice Care
- Gareth Zellmer, Consultant, Trainer
- Ken Kelley, Professor Emeritus, NMU
- Rick Pietila, U.S. State Department
- Jan Schultz, Botanist, USFS, Retired
- Michael Grossman, Family Physician
RESEARCH FELLOWS
- John Rosenberg
- Ruth Almén
- Kent Fish
- Joseph Piccione
For information contact us at 403 East Michigan Street, Marquette, MI 49855 or contact us via email. Telephone & Fax: 906-228-5494
The Fall 2023 Equinox Newsletter is brought to you by Cedar Tree Institute.
