In late 1968, Helen, her dad, and I took a camping holiday to the Flinders Ranges.
Arriving in the South Flinders Ranges, due east of Port Augusta, Dad asked a local farmer for permission to camp on his property.
It was right next to Mount Brown, a significant peak. One afternoon Dad and I went for a walk around the property.
Coming to a steep section, Dad decided to return to camp, while I continued.
The climb was quite strenuous, but in those years I had plenty of energy. I reached the top of Mount Brown.
I stood still surrounded by low bush. Within a few minutes several birds came to visit me, so close I could have reached out to touch them.
In the stillness I experienced a feeling of at-one-ness with the universe.
The experience became a high point in my life, to which I returned in my imagination whenever I felt stressed.
The re-imagining of that moment re-invigorated me for the next part of my personal journey.
May be, you too have had such an experience?
Care to share it?
John van Riet