Dinner was fabulous. Neither of us has expensive tastes so we managed to come out under $30 at a place where $50+ is the norm. I had some calamari and some spinach salad — the salad was probably the best part of the meal.

Over dinner, Jon and I were talking about the retreat and I commented on my conversation with J. David Hill, the Lutheran campus pastor at OSU who was leading the retreat. We were talking about Celtic Christianity and how it relates to Native American spirituality. While reflecting on it, I realized that both strongly emphasize a connection with the natural world that makes us a part of Creation. We are called to be stewards of creation, not just simply have dominion over it. He talked of having a place of sacred remembrance which sounds like the place I have in my mind from Santa Cruz. It was a spot at Stevenson College on the knoll overlooking East Field with a good view of the ocean. It was there I went to cry when I found out that Jon and Susie were together and where I finally said my good-byes to my friend Steve.

This all has really made me think about how I view the world. Was it created for me or was I created for it? I am just as much a part of it as the tree outside my window or the river flowing through downtown Columbus. This might be why my preferred prayer space is in the forest.