Despite all of the differences that exist among us, I think the fact that we are all on our own personal journeys through nature connects us. Each person is on their own unique path to discovering nature, resulting in a spiritual aspect to it. There is so much ugliness in our society, the beautiful simplicity of nature in itself appeals to individuals who aren't even that interested in nature. The spirituality of living with nature comes naturally with the appreciation of what it has to offer. There is so much to take in, it's almost a struggle not to see it as a spiritual journey. I don't think it necessarily requires a religious background to follow a spiritual journey through nature. For the individuals who do follow a religious lifestyle, the beauty of nature gives them more to love and praise in their worship. For the individuals who aren't religious, taking nature as a spiritual token offers motivation and gives us something to live for.
I think that Dillard wrote this book for the people who live for nature and for the people who haven't yet discovered the beauty of it. For the people who have already developed a love for nature, this book is a way to expand their views and enhance their perspective on the environment around them. Books like this are important to continue the spiritual journeys, to prevent the individuals from becoming bored with what they love. For the individuals who aren't as acquainted with nature, this book is the perfect foundation to begin a spiritual journey. It offers vivid descriptions of the beauty in nature, and really captivates the reader's imagination. The book captures the beauty of nature not only in the scenery, but also in the pain that exists in nature. My favorite example of Dillard capturing the beauty through pain in nature was when she described the frog being eaten by the water bug. To some it may seem vulgar, but when you think about it, the fact that the water bug is even capable of eating a frog that is probably 20 times its body weight is amazing. Her descriptions could make the most anti nature individuals feel an interest toward exploring the earth. When she described the frog's skin, as "glistening, taut, and rumpling" (Dillard 8) the beauty of an painful event can clearly be understood. The descriptions in this book offer necessary insight for less worldly individuals when it comes to nature. In turn, it allows more people to begin a spiritual journey through nature.
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