Wilderness and Its Treasures

The great naturalist and Scottish-American John Muir walked in the beauty of America’s wilderness and the silence of his heart. I can find nearly as many inspiring quotes from Muir as I can from Rumi, the 13th century Persian poet & mystic. They are brothers. Heck, each man’s name is an anagram of the other!

Rumi [via Wikipedia]

Muir [via Wikipedia]

I’d very much like to be showing you my own photographs of Nature, but other matters are more pressing. I need your help.  Truth be told, we need each other’s help.

Republican lawmakers have quietly laid the foundation to give away Americans’ birthright: 640m acres of national land. In a single line of changes to the rules for the House of Representatives, Republicans have overwritten the value of federal lands, easing the path to disposing of federal property even if doing so loses money for the government and provides no demonstrable compensation to American citizens.

At stake are areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Forests and Federal Wildlife Refuges, which contribute to an estimated $646bn each year in economic stimulus from recreation on public lands and 6.1m jobs.  ~ The Guardian newspaper, January 19, 2017

I urge you to read the entire article (click here to read).

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[above images via Wikipedia]

In my last post I mentioned the hero with a thousand faces. Earth and my country needs a couple of heroes.  We are not powerless and we are not alone. Some heroes who used to work as Congressional aides know all the tender spots and shameful secrets of our politicians. These former Congressional aides have given us the inside scoop on how to get attention & action from our government. Its all written up this document entitled “Indivisible”. (click here to read). Today’s inauguration is a chance for any of us who chooses to become the hero with a thousand faces.

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”
― John Muir, The Mountains of California

“The same wind that uproots trees
makes the grass shine.

The lordly wind loves the weakness
and the lowness of grasses.
Never brag of being strong.

The axe doesn’t worry how thick the branches are.
It cuts them to pieces. But not the leaves.
It leaves the leaves alone.”
― Jalaluddin Rumi, The Essential Rumi