Wilderness Sojourn: Notes in the Desert Silence

The solitary wilderness experience can be an adventure, a source of personal renewal or a test of survival, but for Douglas, it is a spiritual retreat, a place for meditation and prayer. He observes that, throughout history, the wilderness has drawn humans closer to God. These contemplative essays recount each weekday trek into canyon country. While Douglasa writer on environmental subjectsappreciates the secular value of wild country, he believes that many of us overlook its scriptural importance (""a place of testing for the Hebrews, of solitude for the prophets, of prayer for Jesus''). A dedicated conservationist, he speculates on the biblical command: `` . . . subdue the earth.'' The book is equally rewarding as a wilderness journey and as one man's affirmation of his faith. Illustrations not seen by PW. (March)