Friday, November 26:
San Gabriel Wilderness Area
Johnny parked the car and retrieved the backpack. It wasn't very heavy; he didn't need much in the way of supplies for what he was planning to do. As he hiked farther into the Wilderness Area, he began to calm down in his surrounds. Sunlight dappled the ground as it found its way through the tree branches. The sky was bluer here, away from the smog. The crisp air smelled of pine and spruce. The wind soughed through the treetops. Birds called greetings to each other on both sides of the trail. Every once in a while a small animal would rustle through the fallen leaves. The rays of the sun warmed him even as the breeze chilled him. As he hiked, he recalled the words spoken by some of the elders:
"Everybody got to find the right path. You can't see it, so it's hard to find. No one can show you. Each person's got to find the path by himself."1
"When we want wisdom, we go up on the hill …. Four days and four nights, without food and water."2
He finally found a secluded spot atop a plateau overlooking the valley below. From the backpack he removed a ground cloth and bedroll, which he spread out under the trees. Removing his shoes, he settled himself cross-legged upon the blanket. With a softly muttered prayer of thanks, he composed himself to think and ponder in the stillness. He had lost his path. He had four days to seek wisdom.