My Relationship with the More-Than-Human World
I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s in a suburb of tree-lined streets. My parents liked to garden. I was always outside during the day, with lots of bugs and birds, squirrels and rabbits. I caught lightning bugs at night and butterflies during the day. Fishing, exploring the local river and camping were common things to do. I grew apart from the natural environment with college, getting a job and getting married. I always planted a garden though wherever I lived and spent free time in parks and near water. I started working on weekends at a garden center just to spend time with and learn about plants, trees, shrubs. I visited Yosemite and Acadia National Parks which really started my love affair with the non-human world. I began a new career and moved to Maine to be close to the National Park where I was drawn, to be immersed in the natural world. It took a few years of living here and life experiences before discovering my spiritual connection with the planet, with understanding of the interconnection of all beings.
Learning about climate change has been devastating. I have been hearing about it for decades and been saddened and grieving without knowing what to do. My responses have evolved significantly over the last five years. I started with thinking that we could just use technology to change how we live and produce all power in a “green” manner” and overcome the CO2 monster. Now I know that this is not a CO2 problem but a consumption problem. There are too many of us and most taking far more than what was offered as our share, fueled by our disconnect from the earth and thinking we are separate and superior. Our job now is to restore life, to work in service to life, however we can. I still grieve every day for what has happened to our more-than-human world as well as to our human brethren who’ve suffered from our overreach. I now seek to find ways to restore life and talk to others about how we can change to live more simply and in balance.
What has helped me in my expression of grief has been taking time for greater interaction with the life that still exists and developing a much deeper relationship with the more-than-human world. I am taking more time to discover the life that exists everywhere and not just in forests and the ocean but right along side the sidewalk and just outside my front door. There are opportunities for awe and wonder everywhere. I’ve also been working with a local community group that’s acting on local issues to reduce waste and CO2. I seek out like-minded people to grieve with, commiserate and listen.
What troubles me most is the loss of life that we are taking from our own ignorance and greed. Life has come and gone many times on this planet, and never before was it the “fault’ of those who died. This just seems like such senseless suffering from such a completely avoidable source – us. I love the life that is being displaced and destroyed so callously.
I believe that we are all part of a living planet and dependent upon each other; all life has value unto itself and not as it relates to humans as a resource. I think there has always been a knowledge of all sacred life that has been talking to me since childhood. I have come to understand this more thoroughly as an adult through readings of many authors, learning of spiritual ecology and Indigenous writings. I was also drawn to becoming a Buddhist in the last 6 or 7 years. I have been influenced by a number of people including Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Joanna Macy, Charles Eisenstein, Wendell Berry, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Daniel Quinn, Thich Nhat Hnah, Thomas Berry and Indigenous elders.
I have worked hard to create space for more life wherever I have lived and tried to live more softly and with more care. I have planted trees and gardens wherever I can and avoided destroying life whenever possible. I am aware and in gratitude of life and informed others as to how to do the same.
I am alive only because of the gifts of the earth and am gifted daily with sights, sounds, smells, feelings that bring joy and sustenance. I speak to the earth and give my thanks, I meditate and connect to the life all around, and give my energy to projects and works that restore life.
Standing Strong in the Face of Uncertain Times
In the face of uncertainty, what gives me strength is this great quote from Robin Wall Kimmerer.
“Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.”
I also try to stay focused on the present moment and not be too attached to outcomes as I have been learning in my Buddhist training – knowing that everything changes.
Teachings from the Dharma have been most helpful as well as keeping perspective as to how things have changed on this planet over billions of years far beyond what we are seeing and that life continues to find a way.
I see life emerge year after year even through tough winters and habitat destruction and the life force will often prevail.
My dearest friend Cindy is someone who has listened to the elders, the visionaries, the writers and has spent time observing the natural world. She would know about my strength in getting through these times of uncertainty. I think Cindy would say that I have a voice that needs to be heard and would appreciate my true belief in the sacred nature of all life.
Future Hopes and Dreams
If I could do anything in the world to change things, I would find a way to get the world of humans to remember what was always known – that we are nature and not separate and that we are first and foremost called to care for each other. Humans are not somehow superior nor more deserving. Secondly, I would find some land that has been exploited and help restore it back to what it was and could be in supporting more life. then perhaps this land could be a base from which I could help some to remember our connection as part of nature. I would like to create a place that others, who want to exit the madness that we know is so destructive, can use as an offramp from the business as usual.
I have some experience and knowledge about creating growing spaces and I am passionate about learning more about it as well. There is a need for a change in consciousness as a precursor for the changes needed to restore life to the planet. I have gained a certain level of understanding/knowledge from much reading and listening. I could use more confidence and experience in publicly voicing these ideas. I recently purchased the domain names of inservicetolife.com and inservicetolife.org for future use somehow in the endeavor.
I need to identify the place where I could be of most benefit in restoring life to the land. All the work that that would entail would require funding and manpower and additional expertise. I would need to develop a curriculum to bring my ideas to a larger audience – a Ted Talk, a video presentation, a course to be taught, etc…
I would like to connect to people who are like-minded about the futility of our current matrix, are willing to work, and agree that this is a conversation that needs to be had. These connections might help support efforts to bring people together for the purpose of creating change both on the land and in people’s minds. I could start with discussing these ideas and need for funding with family, and further develop plans for what this could look like both from a physical perspective as well as the broadening of my current presentation and curricula for the ‘In Service To Life’ needs.
There are some things that might get in the way of achieving my dream including the need for money and support, and a lack of confidence and experience. I just need to get out there and do it and not be so afraid of failure. Commitment and passion must exceed fear of the unknown.
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