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For better or worse, much of the world we experience is dominated and
controlled by human beings. We spend our days in houses, cars, and buildings,
and inside these structures, we are in control. We assert our wills and
manipulate our environment. Within the context of the human world, this is
natural. However, we often carry this attitude with us into the world of
nature. We forget as we enter the forest, or sit on the edge of a pond, that
we are moving into another realm, one that asks us to drop our baggage and
surrender to a different sense of order and meaning.
When we move from our everyday world into the world of nature, we may not
even notice at first. We might continue talking loudly into our cell phone or
to a friend that is with us. We might walk quickly as if we are on a busy
city street, our eyes downcast, our thoughts hectic and hurried. In the best
case, if we are sensitive to our environment, we will soon notice that it has
changed. We may hear ducks calling, or wind moving through the leaves on a
tree. If we notice the shift, we will naturally shift as well. If we don’t,
we may get all the way through a beautiful park without having lowered our
voices. Next time you find yourself in the presence of wildlife -- even if
it’s just a duck pond in the midst of urban hustle -- try to move into a
receptive state of openness and listening, no matter how much or how little
time you have. Allow yourself to be captivated and calmed by the energy of
the wildlife that covers this earth. Teaching our children to be respectful
of nature and to stop and observe is a gift they can always cherish
We preserve pockets of nature in our urban centers and large expanses of
nature in our national parks because of the magic we feel in its presence. It
reminds us of our smallness and calls us back to a deeper, quieter part of
ourselves. When we honor nature by being respectful in its presence, we honor
the mystery and wild beauty of our origin.
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