From the new day…

Do you remember what was born 42 years ago today? April 22, 1970 saw the arrival of the first ever Earth Day, given birth by environmentalists who saw this planet on an expanding and alarming track towards destruction.

Since that time we have come a long way, in our understanding of the needs of the planet if it is to stay healthy, and of the negative effects that arise when human beings interact carelessly, thoughtlessly and selfishly with the world. The mission of the environmentalists needs to continue through the generations if future inhabitants want to enjoy a symbiotic and life-preserving relationship with their surrounds. To be fully connected with the environment however, one must slow down and treasure moments of silence, during which the world speaks in a language that all can understand. It is a language of love and joy and awe and it speaks directly to our heart.

I recently had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this language. It was during my first bike ride of the season. The backdrop was a series of country roads on a brilliantly perfect spring day. I had decided that while exercise is important, this was my first time out in 2012 so I would be gentle on myself. After about 5 miles, as I rode on a dirt and cinder road which was quite forested on both sides, I came to a clearing where I could see and hear the creek that meandered through the woods.  The steady song of the water tumbling over the rocks and around the bend was worthy of a break from pedaling to simply listen and feel the calming benefits of one of nature’s  perfect meditations. A little further on, as I passed a meadow with beautiful chestnut brown horses quietly taking in the afternoon sun, I noticed a blue heron fly overhead. These birds always excite me when I see their unique form in flight. This was another opportunity to stop what I was doing and just observe the path of this majestic bird. It flew gently and steadily, using the small creek below as its roadmap. The flight of the heron was mesmerizing. I watched until it could be seen no more as it became one with the sky. Nearing the end of the 20 mile ride I slowed down as I approached a pond and heard the familiar sounds of the peepers. Their appearance has always been elusive to me. The call of the peepers seemed to come from an invisible presence. This time was different. A few of their little heads were above the water in their natural habitat which included green growth over much of this wetland. Unfortunately, my arrival caused them to become silent, but I sat quietly on the bank and waited and in time I had the pleasure of observing their behavior and watching their throats swell as they made their distinct sound. The choir of peepers performed as their audience of one felt blessed to be in attendance at this private concert. The day was perfect. I enjoyed the freedom and pace of my bike which afforded me the chance to listen and observe creation up close. I slowed down to receive an increase in pleasure. In so doing I heard the language of the earth and it filled my heart with joy. The frenetic pace of life that is commonplace these days steals these moments from us. It is time to recapture the full essence of what the environmentalists were striving to preserve back in 1970.

My thought on this earth day is two-fold. The importance of respecting our planet is paramount and each of us needs to commit to being respectful children of Mother Earth. We also need to remember that the intricacies of this planet cannot be fully appreciated as we fly through our days, stressed beyond what is healthy. Why worry about preserving the environment if we don’t rejoice in the glory of it? Take time to see, hear and feel all that surrounds you and allow the melodious language of this world to fill your heart with its song.

Giving thanks for the blessing of this day…

From the new day...

Like a gift package adorned with the finest ribbons and bows, the gift of Spring arrived this year brilliantly decorated with an abundance of blossoms and blooms. An explosion of color and beauty suddenly surrounded us, ignited by the unusually warm temperatures. A magical Spring had begun.

The magic and miracles of the seasons always amaze me. Think about the crocuses in early Spring, that manage to fight their way through the packed winter earth to expose their colors of purple, yellow and white to the eyes of winter weary light seekers. Not so much as the top of their fragile petals are damaged in the course of digging out of their winter’s habitat where their shape and color form and mature in the darkness of the cold earth. You have to wonder how that is even possible. Maybe even more amazing as a harbinger of spring is the return of the ruby throated hummingbird. This tiny creature weighs in at only 1/8 of an ounce and is only 3 ½ inches long. It leaves its winter home, which may be Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean as the weather in the Eastern U.S. warms, and food supplies become available. It flies a few thousand miles over changing topography, through challenging weather conditions and all the way across the Gulf of Mexico. Their tiny wings flap 52 times per second on average but after billions of flaps, they arrive at their destination still intact. It hardly seems possible that something so small and fragile could make such a journey, and do it twice in a year!  Another recurrence in spring is the equinox when day and night are equal and the promise of gradually lengthening days lies ahead. We tend to take this for granted because it always was, but if you really think about the predictability of such a cosmic event, it is truly amazing. The whole notion of seasons could be thrown off if the earth’s axis shifted or the sun would change its placement. But these celestial bodies hold strong in their position, allowing us to feel the safety of routine.

Routine has its place and so does spontaneity. Today I was drawn to stop at one of my favorite nature preserves by a serendipitous occurrence. As I drove along the country road, I was listening to a CD that I had not heard for years. Much to my surprise, the song I heard was called Looking for fairies. This song played just before the turn off to the preserve. I received this gift of music in gratitude and felt that the day was speaking very clearly to me through this song.  Since I first discovered this preserve, I have had the feeling that it is the perfect place for fairies to thrive. When I cannot stop to walk along the stream or the hills, I always put my window down and say hello to these wonderful little beings that I know occupy treasured spaces in this preserve. While I have not seen them, I feel their presence. They have captured my heart and my imagination.  I know that many people snicker at the idea of anyone beyond preschool age believing in fairies, but consider the magic and the miracles that I have described above in the crocus and the hummingbird and the equinox.  How is it any less likely that the miracle of fairies is indeed a reality? They called to me today and I listened. I stopped and quietly took in the sounds and feelings of this environment. It was serene and nurturing. Perhaps they knew that was what I needed at that moment. As my heart opens fully to their existence, I hope to be privy to their world and delighted with visions that I have only been able to imagine. Creation is much grander than our eyes first see. Through prayer, meditation and focused mindfulness we can increase our awareness. With the enlightened vision of the sages, the miracles of creation and the presence of the divine can be seen in all things.

Giving thanks for the blessing of this day...