Spirituality of wild flowers

We started off the day on a gradual climb through the dramatic scenery we described yesterday, towards a natural park, and then descending quickly through farmland and fields of wild flowers.

​Their patterns, colors, and varieties are determined by some mystical formula, defined, but not explained, by an ancient combination of environment and evolution. Seeing this rich tapestry fly by with a stark backdrop of hills and mountains, I can understand why some choose to believe in a Creator to explain this beautiful landscape, which appears as if made by genius strokes on a vast canvas. However, I find it more wondrous and spiritual to consider that these incomprehensibly complex patterns, as well as our own appreciation of the beauty of these patterns, has come into existence completely on its own over billions of years, rather than at the whim of some other being.

Today has been an introspective day, and I think this trip overall is in some ways, for me to discover and expand upon my own spirituality. I thought a lot about the individual and unique nature of our own experiences of this universe. Each of our perceptions of reality is necessarily flawed and individual because it is centered only on what our senses can perceive. Missing are the experiences of other people and creatures, such as the insects we squash on the road, or the ants that we shower with bounty whenever we have a picnic. Even more, are the forces and actions of this universe that are unavailable to our senses: radio waves, quantum effects, and an infinite number of others.

On a more practical more, we had a wonderful tapas lunch in Lorca, and an easy day of cycling 100km but mostly downhill. Our camping is very basic off the side of a highway 2km outside of Totana, Spain.

Also, my solar charger stopped working today! I called the manufacturer, and they will send me a new one once I return the broken one, so I’ll need to find other charging options for the next few weeks.