ShepherdLeader.com

Observation of the wilderness: Wilderness and Wonderment - When one looks at the picture in the opening chapter before reading its contents, the picture is somewhat alluring. The sun is reflecting off the calm water and the mountains look as though they touch the blue sky. It looks so peaceful; however, after reading the chapter and then revisiting the picture you begin to see the dangers and dread of the wilderness. The stream is shallow and dries up the further you go into the wilderness, the vegetation is brown which can mean a lack of food and nourishment and there are many cracks and crevices in the mountain which can lead to falling rocks and hidden predators that will surely come out once the sun sets.
This is an excellent picture of life at first glance. Everything can seem okay until some time is spent close-up in the lives of others and even one's self. This is the journey that this book leads you on. It requires you to look closely at the content and context to appreciate and learn the lessons of the wilderness. It also keeps one’s sight keenly aware of how fragile we are when we don't carefully examine our surroundings and circumstances.