Today, April 21st, is John Muir’s birthday.
Mr. Muir is quite an amazing man, and he led a life that was full of love for the Earth. He spent a lot of his days in the wild, walking and simply “being with” nature; a type of life Mr. T. and I often dream about.
Born in Scotland in 1838, John and his family came to the US in 1849. Even as a young boy living in Wisconsin he loved nature, and went on to study botany, among many other things, in college.
After that he worked in industry for a few years, but, after an accident which almost took his sight, Muir returned to what he felt was his true calling, nature. He writes “This affliction has driven me to the sweet fields. God has to nearly kill us sometimes to teach us lessons”. Muir learned his lessons and spent the rest of his life studying, advocating for, and living in nature.
He began his new life by taking a walking journey from Indiana to Florida. Form there, he planned to head to South America to continue his travels. But, he came down with malaria…..which seems to be another divine intervention because after he recovered he changed his plans and decided to go west to California instead.
When he landed in San Francisco, he headed straight for the area that is now (thanks to John Muir) Yosemite National Park. He was awe struck, and was now home. He began his time in the Sierra Nevada as a sheepherder. Which was an excellent profession for him since it gave him time to be in and study nature.
From there Muir realized his talents as a writer when in 1874 he published a series of articles called “Studies in the Sierra”. He would go on to write many many more articles, books and more.
In addition to writing, John Muir traveled extensively. He made it to, among other places, Alaska, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Europe, and China. Quite a list for a many of the 19th century!
In 1880, Muir married and went on to have 2 daughters. He lived in California and helped tend the family ranch. He went away often though, with his family’s support, to wander in nature and rejuvinate.
In 1890 Muir did what some see as his most influential work, which was helping to establish Yosemite National Park. Then, in 1892 he helped to found the Sierra Club – to – in his words, “do something for wilderness and make the mountains glad”.
John Muir also helped to create Sequoia, Mount Ranier, Petrified, and Grand Canyon National Parks. These parks, and the National Parks System that they helped to fuel has protected some of the most beautiful land in the country…in the world…so that future generations can enjoy, at least a few places, the way God actually intended.
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.” – John Muir
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” – John Muir
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