RAIN AFTER ASH Jeffrey Gardner – UNDERSTANDING CRAIG

Understanding Craig:

‘A destination needs desire. To reach it requires will. The wanderer has will without desire, to move without getting anywhere, but to keep moving.’  Craig Arnold

One of the very first challenges I gave myself was to hike along the trails of our very own Verdugo Mountains. With a pack on my back and a camcorder in my hand I started up the 6.5 mile trail to the top. Along the way I experienced some very wonderful things…a buck crossing my path, incredible, almost otherworldly wildflower and a couple of very interesting hikers on their own spiritual journey. But the most fascinating of all was an ‘unseen’ bird, a crow who decided to follow me on my hike. (Video #1) As I hiked further I stopped to read some of Craig’s poetry and sure enough there he was again. ‘caw, caw, caw’. (Video #2)

I kept moving. A couple hours later I finally reached the top of the mountain; breathless, thirsty, disoriented. Looking out at the incredible vista below me I was reminded of Craig’s own challenge. ‘Cold and windy, or dark and pathless, what is this forest in which we find ourselves? Or rather, where we lose ourselves, in order to find our way out of it? Going to and fro on the earth, and walking up and down on it, where do we hope to end up?’‘ After a couple missed trails I did find my way out, I did find a sense of inner peace in myself and the crow eventually went his own way. Where did I hope to end up? Somewhere I could gain a better understanding of this wonderfully complex man. Perhaps a glimpse into his incredibly raw, honest and emotional poetry.

I am closer for now but will keep moving.

Jeff Crow Follows