Naked man

It was right at the peak of dejection. We had just crossed back over the river to the shore we hiked to. Seth, Kevin, and Asa took the path up farther to see if there was another way. Moses and I were sitting on the rocks letting our clothes dry out in the sun and wringing out our socks. The heat from the sun was welcome warmth after the ice cold river water. It was then that it happened: the naked man ran past.

He was in his 50s or 60s with peppery grey hair and a long glorious beard. I saw him off in the distance running towards us. I chose not to tell Moses early. I wanted to see his reaction at this sight. I turned and checked the path the other boys went down to see Kevin and Asa slowly coming back.

He was running at a faster pace than I thought he was, and when I looked again he was on us. Moses gave a slight noise of surprise and the old man just said “Hello” as he ran past. The only thing I was worried about was his feet. How can you run on such a rocky surface with no shoes? So as his old tanned skin zoomed past I looked at his feet. He had simple sandals on. It looked like he had made them himself.

He was at that moment a few seconds from Kevin and Asa. I watched as he ran at them. Neither of the boys had any look of reaction on their faces. Kevin took him for what he was, a local. He took the time to ask him about other paths to take and advice on what to do. Or at least I assume that’s what they were talking about. After they were done he waved and kept on his run.

This moment vividly sticks out in my mind as important. Well, that might not be the right word. It was enlightening. You must know that we were out in the middle of a barren land. Off a road that is painful to drive on. Yet here was a mountain man, a naked mountain man. He was running in the early afternoon stark naked. Not a care in the world. At that moment he was possessionless.

Yet on that same hike I had brought a fifty pound pack and was about to die from exhaustion. He was everything I wasn’t. Everything that in my mind I would like to be. I know I can’t run away from my responsibilities. But the idea of a simple life is something I struggle with. It might not seem like that is the case. I have few possessions and lack the means to gather lots of things. I do have the want though.

It’s in the back of my head to distract myself with people and things. To keep my life busy and full so I don’t let my creeping issues catch up with me. The naked man though, he had nothing in that moment. He had no music, no phone, and no clothes. So what is simple to me? If I leave my phone at home do I get panicky? Why is it that I try to keep myself distracted at all times? Is that our generation? I want to start taking some time to be nothing and have nothing.