Forest Bathing, Autumn Edition (10/6/2026)

Autumn, fall, herfst, three ways of describing the period of the year we are in now; the third word is Dutch (my native language) for autumn. While, to my recollection, I really never experienced fall before – having grown up in the tropics – until the ripe old age of 16. But it quickly became my favorite season. I wrote a post about my love of autumn in October 2022; four years later I feel that am ready to revisit the subject.

Living in coastal Virginia, you always hear the joke about how we have at least seven fall seasons. When talking about fall it goes something like cooler summer, false fall, second summer, fool fall, summer again, fall, summer’s last hurrah, and true fall. That all happens in 3 months. Spring has the same problem with multiple spring and false spring stages. In spring the worst is pine pollen season. But that’s the fun of living in coastal Virginia.

Fall, winter and early spring allow me to spend time in the woods behind our home. Finally, some true forest bathing. I love being out there. Somehow, it feels more urgent to spend time in the woods at this moment of my life with all the responsibilities I have. First, managing a church or presiding over it is heavy lifting. Then, being so close to the mid-term elections does not help either. We are being bombarded by political ads on television and let’s not discuss the more than 20 texts I get each day asking me for contributions and telling me how bad the opposition is.

I have a few ways of escaping all the issues facing me. Of course, we have doom scrolling or going into the rabbit hole. I have the UUFP, managing it, but also our men’s group and a small ministry group, which we call fellowship circle. Both groups have approximately 8 members, and it is good to get together with a group of close friends every few weeks. We camp more frequently. This year I have somewhat ignored my bonsai trees, but I promise to do better next year. Finally, there is walking in the woods, in nature, forest bathing.

While he did not call it forest bathing, Thomas Jefferson advocated the benefits of being in nature. In 1785, he wrote a letter to his nephew Peter Carr in which he recommended that Peter take a long walk in nature each afternoon and be in the moment. Jefferson wrote:

“The object of walking is to relax the mind. You should therefore not permit yourself even to think while you walk. But divert your attention by the objects surrounding you.” 

Now that is living in the moment. John Muir wrote:

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” 

 The woods behind our home give me solace. I thoroughly enjoy being out there. I wrote a number of posts on my time in the woods or forest bathing. One of my personal favorites is this post that I wrote in 2018. That post was inspired by rereading Hemingway’s book “The Old Man and the Sea.”

I have written a lot on getting outside and loving the earth. Whether it is walking in the woods behind my home, walking in the Shenandoah National Park, Newport News Park, or any other place I have visited lately, I take it all in, live in the moment just like Jefferson advised. I even enjoy walking in our neighborhood and looking at the trees, at how the people take care of their yard or at times do the minimum or even abuse their yards with loads of fertilizer and pesticides. But now in fall it is time to get outside again, into the woods, forest bathe and forget all the frustrations.

Enjoying the cool autumn mornings. It is so nice to be out there again.

What is the value of critical thinking or is there still value in critical thinking? (9/24/2026)

During one of the bi-weekly Zoom meetings I attend we ended up discussing critical thinking, its value and whether people still practice critical thinking. This got me thinking (critically) and I consulted Claude, the AI application from Anthropic. 

Claude told me that “(C)critical thinking lets you form beliefs and make decisions based on evidence and sound reasoning rather than assumptions, habit, or persuasion. A few concrete payoffs:

Better decisions — you weigh evidence and consider consequences instead of going with your first instinct or what feels comfortable

Resistance to manipulation — harder to fool with bad arguments, misleading statistics, or emotional appeals once you're used to asking "what's the evidence for this?"

Problem-solving — breaking complex issues into parts and questioning assumptions often reveals solutions that surface-level thinking misses

Intellectual honesty — you get more comfortable updating your views when new evidence shows up, rather than defending a position just because it's yours

It also matters at a social level: people who think critically together tend to have better discussions, make fewer collective mistakes, and are less susceptible to groupthink or misinformation.”

Welcome to the rabbit hole. As I told you in my previous post, I will not blindly embrace AI, but there is a lot to unpack here. I guess you can call that critical thinking. It seems to be clear that critical thinking remains valuable because it helps us evaluate evidence, resist manipulation, solve problems, and revise our beliefs when new information challenges them. I will leave you to ponder this, but I will add my two (political) cents to this summary by Claude.

The sentence “Forming beliefs and decisions based on sound reasoning rather than assumptions, habit and persuasion” really hits home to me. I feel like we live in an era of gaslighting, where persuasion and manipulation seem to be the order of the day in high level political circles (read the Whitehouse). When someone does not agree with you, you label it “FAKE NEWS.” Yes, I copied the capitalization from our leader who now has an approval rating in the low 30%. Approximately 70% of the folks in this country now agree that this is gaslighting. More and more of them are understanding that we are now being manipulated by their republican leaders.

Are we making better decisions when using critical thinking. On a personal level we all do. But even on a social level when we practice group-thinking. I think we are increasingly worried about data centers. We protest against them and I am very impressed by the no-kings rallies that are still being organized. Individually, the current inflation rate and the gasoline and diesel prices have forced us to make better decisions in the stores and on the road. This also ties in with problem solving. Remember, your vote matters!

Intellectual honesty is an interesting part of the equation. I sometimes think that our leader is being manipulated by his staff (read nazi sympathizers Stephen Miller and John Gorka) and the multi-millionaires around him. Honestly, I do not think that there is a lot of intellectual maturity in our 80+ year-old leader. He is in it for the glory (naming buildings after himself, monuments and gold statues), the money and maybe the riches that his progeny will accumulate.

Well, I told you we would be going down the rabbit hole. I cannot resist linking critical thinking and the current political climate that we are in. I think more people are thinking more critically. I do not want to infer that they are critical of our current leadership; although that might be the logical outcome. Again, I am hopeful and think that with critical thinking people are examining all sides of the coin and finally form a belief that is based on evidence and sound reasoning rather than assumptions and persuasion by a gaslighting demagog.

One final question remains; how can we stimulate critical thinking in the masses versus the current sheepish behavior that is exhibited by the MAGA republicans and their cronies in elected offices? We may need to revisit the ancient Greek philosophy schools or things that John Dewey tried to tell us. Dewey suggested that “the purpose of education should not revolve around the acquisition of a pre-determined set of skills, but rather the realization of one's full potential and the ability to use those skills for the greater good.” That’s how we learn to think critically.

To repeat myself, Education Matters, and Your Vote Matters!

A generic photograph from Shutterstock depicting education.

Do we really need AI? (9/18/2026)

If you have been following the news, you have probably noticed how prominently artificial intelligence (AI) appears in the headlines. Much of the debate focuses on the data centers AI requires and the communities resisting their expansion. These weeks, some AI experts reportedly warned that AI technology could threaten humanity within the next 10 to 30 years. I wonder if they actually meant human civilization instead humanity in its entirety. But even if isolated indigenous communities in Africa, South America, and Asia survived such a catastrophe, the warning raises a more immediate question: What is AI for, and why do we believe we need it?

Copilot, Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT, and Groc are some of the names we hear about. I have played with all of them in a very limited fashion except for Groc; I refuse to touch things that Musk touches. The AI systems are fun and interesting, I already see it’s evolution over one year. It was a year ago that I asked a few of the AI programs to write my eulogy. I presented the AI eulogies in my men’s group; but did not feel like publishing it here.

To repeat my question: Why do we actually believe we need AI? Yes, at times makes computations easier, it even assists me with complicated questions such as: should I pay off the mortgage on my home, or what is the best route between Yorktown, Virginia and Tyler, Texas avoiding highways as much as possible and driving no more that 200 miles per day? I had an answer to both questions within minutes. I could have figured out the answer to both questions on my own; however, in both cases Claude did it much faster than I could have done it.

So why do we need it? I am afraid that society is getting dumber. The other day I gave the cashier a ten-dollar bill for something that cost $9.85 and he seriously had to examine the screen to see how much cash he needed to return. OK, we do not need AI for that, a simple calculator could figure that one, although he should have paid attention in math classes in school.

Reportedly, AI has now solved one of the remaining algebra problems that challenged researchers. Something we really do not need. The New York times reported that OpenAI disclosed 6 new incidents of “concerning” AI behavior.

How could AI wipe out humanity? All the sudden all airplanes fall out of the sky; boats drift aimlessly on the oceans; all traffic lights stop; electricity disappears; water stops running; hospitals stop functioning; and ever the computers in vehicles stop working. This may not be a quick end; it may take a week or two. Who needs a nuclear Armageddon? Survivalists may hang on a little longer, but even their battery banks have computer chips in them. In an interview Peter Thiel would neither confirm nor deny that the super-rich are expecting or even planning for this (the end of humanity) to happen. Is this why Musk is trying to father a super race? But can you imagine the inbreeding among these kids in future generations? Boy, I need to write a science fiction novel about this scenario.

I wonder if we need a kill switch, in addition to slowing things down? But the AI is spread over multiple computers so killing one may have no effect. Moreover, it would probably be able to replicate itself. Quite an interesting conundrum. But will it really happen or is that disgruntled AI employee just out for publicity, fame and money for his appearance in front of the media or maybe even a future book. Time will tell. All that I know is that we probably can use some checks and balances on AI.

I asked ChatGPT to turn me into a Roman emperor using a regular photograph of my wife and I. Very convincing isn't it?

Amazing is far too Simple (09/05/2026)

“You have such an amazing experience.” That is something we hear every so now and then. However, the recent floods in Nepal brought back memories that make the word “amazing” feel far too simple. As some of you obviously have discovered in my posts, we lived in Nepal in the 1980s, from 1981 through the first half of 1983, and the news this week was deeply distressing. We have been glued to the news about the disaster. We endured two monsoons during our time in Nepal; and let me tell you they are not fun. The monsoon unleashed a torrent of rain when it reaches Nepal and since the Himalayas are among the youngest mountains, they are very unstable. The result was that in our first year there, we had to navigate through landslides that literally happened the night before. I also pulled two companions out of a raging stream before they got swept away. That scene still plays itself out in front of my eyes, now 45 years later. It was very distressing. By the second monsoon, we had learned enough to leave on vacation and take a trip that carried us around the world.

While what happened in Nepal recently occurred during a monsoon, it most likely the consequence of a global phenomenon called global warming or climate change. Glaciers are becoming unstable and then monsoonal rains on top of these unstable ice sheets can result in what happened in Nepal.

But let’s get back to our lives with those amazing experiences that these people allude to. I realize that this sounds somewhat self-indulgent, but these postings are a mix of what has been and is going on in my life, as well as some of my observations. In addition to Nepal, we have spent time in many foreign countries and in regions throughout the U.S. This includes Uganda during a civil war, Nepal, Yemen and the Netherlands. In the U.S. we lived in Delaware, Utah, New Mexico, Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia. I alone briefly lived in Washington State. Here in Virginia people may ask whether we were in the military or if we were missionaries, and the answer would be “no.” We wanted to explore the world and there is no better way to do that than working in international development. You get to play tourist for at least two years in one country or region. But eventually I chose to complete my education and we returned state-side.

Recently, some folks have labeled us a “cute couple.” While I am not absolutely sure what that means, I assume it has to do with our age, the time we have been together and how we interact with each other and the people we meet. Yes, we now realize that during our 49-year marriage we definitively have lived a very full life. It has been full of experiences that many folks do not have. While many experiences were joyful, fascinating and simply good, some were absolutely awful, but all together, I cannot help feeling very blessed. I once concluded that if I were to die now, I would have lived a wonderful life. Not that I wish it would end, there are many more adventures and experiences I want to enjoy. Right now, the adventures include camping throughout the US and Canada, and visits to my grandson and of course his parents.

A while ago I realized that I will probably never see him graduate college, some 20+years from now. I sincerely hope to publish all my blog posts in book-form one of these days to leave some sort of legacy. Even the recent disaster in Nepal should be part of that.

I apologize for this somewhat strange post. No, it is not meant as a form of bragging. For me it is more like soul searching. To conclude, maybe our lives have been extraordinary to some, and we should not be arrogant about it? Was our experience intentional or accidental? I think the answer is emphatic, yes! It has been a fun ride, and I hope it will continue, but hopefully with fewer natural disasters and other mishaps. I hope that I can continue informing, educating and sometimes maybe a little bragging.

Photo from 1982, when we we were on our way to Mustang on the Tibetan plateau for work.

Shenandoah in July: Why Big Meadows Won Us Over (8/16/2026)

We decided to go camping in Shenandoah National Park for a few days during the last week of July. We booked a spot at the Big Meadows Campground and headed off with our new Airstream World Traveler. I am happy to report that we had a blast – an absolutely wonderful time. The campground is huge with 221 camp sites, and it was mostly full, but it never felt crowded. It is just down from the Big Meadows Lodge. The temperatures were at least 10 degrees cooler than in the lowlands. It was in the mid-70s (22 degrees C) during the day and low 60s at night. It is off-grid, but we never missed the electricity that would be needed to run the air conditioner.

After arrival we spent two full days there. Friday evening was very busy, but that’s understandable, the park being so close to Washington, DC. We left on Saturday, so I have no idea what that looked like during the rest of the weekend.

We did three hikes: one up the highest peak in the park (Hawksbill Peak – 4051 feet), the other around the lodge on the Appalachian Trail, and the final one to the visitor center and back from our campsite (the Story of Forest Trail). On the first evening we walked on the main trail though Big Meadows. We left our dogs in the camper during the Big Meadows walk and Story of Forest Trail walk. The temperatures were sufficiently cool, so we were not afraid of them overheating.

On Friday evening we decided to treat ourselves to dinner at the lodge. Cooking in the Airstream is easy enough and usually very good, but it was nice to go on a date. My wife ordered smoked chicken and I had the trout. Both meals were good; the chicken was so generous that it came back home with us and was enjoyed a second time. I washed my trout down with a Big Meadows IPA, specially brewed for the lodge. For dessert we had blackberry ice cream enjoyed on the deck while watching the sun set. We were visited by a Chinese lantern fly, a pest that is slowly invading the eastern U.S.A. and wreaking havoc on the natural ecosystems.

Our overall opinion is that we need to return. It was delightful. This was our third camping trip in the Blue Ridge, this one in the National Park and the other two were along the Parkway in Virginia: the Peaks of Otter and Rocky Knob Campgrounds. While they were all off-grid, and we liked all three, Big Meadows was our favorite. The other two are tied for second.

Over the past three years we have camped quite a bit and if you are a regular reader, you must have noticed that we do not often stay in National Parks. The reason for this is that National Parks often do not allow dogs, and we always travel with our two beasts. The only other one we stayed in was Big Bend National Park which we absolutely love. But even there, no dogs allowed on the trails.

It is such a shame what the current administration is doing in Big Bend National Park. They are bulldozing a perimeter road and there is talk of constructing the famous border wall, completely screwing up the ecosystem. And this is an area with the lowest number of illegal crossings. It would take days of wandering in the desert to get somewhere.

It is not the case that we avoid U.S. Government camp sites. We love U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites. In fact, one of our favorite sites was the East Totten Trail Campground (and <here>) in North Dakota.

Wow, although we are no longer camping rookies, we are still Airstream newbies and learning a lot. Where will our next trip go to?

Sunset on the Big Meadows

Big Meadows

Our site at the campgound

Below the Lodge

Hawksbill Peak