JOURNEY INTO ELDERHOOD: It's a journey with many stops along the way and enriched by the people I meet. So, stop in and visit. You're welcome...
22 July 2010
The Power of Love
My friend, Marian Van Eyk McCain, at Elderwomanblog wrote an insightful post on Earthpages on July 20, 2010 called "Getting into the Spirit of Green." She describes the overlooked but powerful force of love as the real reason for going green. I like her take on things anyway but this rang especially true for me as I revel in family and notice our collective efforts to change our ways to tread lighter on mother earth and teach our grandchildren the ways of more sustainable living. She relates these efforts to spirituality: "So it is time to bring our spirituality down to Earth and connect it to the things that really matter—peace, social justice, ecosystems, sustainability, the healing of a planet that is far too beautiful and precious to damage. Because we love it." And, I would add, because we love the little ones of the next generation and the next and the next...
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Well put!
ReplyDeleteI have a friend, now living in England, whose children were born and, until recently, raised in Trinidad. In fact, it was there that I first met them. The oldest is 12. The youngest, 6. They grew up in central Trinidad, where parrots flew through the trees, where scorpions and tarantulas were as much pets as wildlife, and where rivers and streams were their sidewalks and playgrounds. THEY appreciate and understand what 'Green Living' is - more than anyone I know. They are GREAT kids, and they have helped me see. Your grandchildren remind me of Trinidad - how lovely it is, and how damaged it is by the human population - how damaged our home is by human populations everywhere.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully put, Mary.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I feel discouraged by the damage done "to our home," as Lou put it, I remind myself of the vast improvements we have made since our parents' generation. When I was younger, the word "ecology" was not in the common vernacular. If there was any such thing as recycling, I never heard about it. Everything, and then some, went into the trash. There were rivers you couldn't swim in, but you could probably walk on them, they were so thick with pollution. Everything from cars and trucks to buildings and factories to human beings belched smoke into the air.
We have a long way to go, no question. But we are making progress.
Lou, I know Nan and her boys from my years visiting Trinidad. Her sons are best friends with and dearly missed by my grandchildren. You're right about "green living" appreciation which they share with my daughter and her husband. Take a look at the link for my daughter's home for more info on Trinidad. The damage part makes me sad.
ReplyDeletePatti, I hope the progress is enough and in time for our grandchildren.