into the wild

Jon Krakauer is the writer of such classic books like Into Thin Air in which he tells of his ascent of Mt. Everest. He also wrote a book Into the Wild about a 24 year old guy who just up and left society. He graduated from college and got rid of all his stuff and just took to the road, hitchhiking, living off the land. He had no home, very few belongings, no schedule. He just went where there was to go and didn't look back. Lots of things are said to explain his longing for freedom. A suffocating father whose expectations weren't welcome to young Chris. A passion to understand and rid the world of her injustices like poverty, hunger. He also had many literary heroes from whom he derived alot of his philosophies on life. Tolstoy, Thoreau, Muir. Chris ended up in Alaska, little prepared to life off the land and spend a few months in the bush. I'm not quite to the end of the book, so I don't know how he dies, but they find his decomposed body. Autopsy says he died of starvation.

His longing for freedom led him away from his family, his friends, society and ultimately led him to death. His young, naivete and hubris took him beyond what was realistic for him. He was an idealist to the max. Idealism that was unrealistic.

I read in this book "but we little know until tried how much of the uncontrollable there is in us" and "he was looking for more adventure and freedom than today's society gives people" and I get a little scared because I know I have alot of those same feelings and dreams inside of me.

I don't want to follow something unrealistic only to meet my end because I was arrogant and naive. I don't want to alienate those around me in the process.

I think there's a huge difference between people like Chris and myself. It's the same difference between those who go insane with their hunger and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. My dreams and ambitions are going to lead me toward something larger than myself. Not something wild and uncontrollable like nature, but something good and purposeful like God Almighty. In my hunger for adventure and to fulfill my lofty dreams, I will be seeking God's will and His provision. I will ultimately be where He wants me. Instead of something selfish and meaningless.

I don't fault Chris for hungering for more. I think everyone has that desire for eternity in their heart. Chris just misinterpreted his hunger and sought after it in the wrong places.