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| The Mystery within... |
I was part of a Schlitz Audubon Nature Center reading group
reflecting on botanist and Native American, Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book,
“Braiding Sweetgrass,” when, Laurie, a group member said, “The only thing created
out of nothing is love.” I understood
Laurie's words on a level where words are inadequate to describe what we all
seek. And if our world, our universe,
was created out of love, then I believe we all play a part as co-creators
through loving the world and one another.
When I asked Laurie if she could say a little more about “The
only thing created out of nothing is love,” she told me the story of her two
year old daughter dying of cancer and the love that sprung from her daughter’s reaching
her tiny little hand out to grab the pinky of a seriously bad-tempered,
tyrannical family member. She said her
daughter’s simple touch broke down his defenses and she saw how he realized
he had nothing to fear from her daughter.
Her touch transformed him. I pray
her poignant story will help me be more curious and understanding of the fears harbored
by seriously bad tempered, tyrannical souls and will help me know everything
holds the Mystery within to bring transformation.
Robin Wall Kimmerer braids science, spirit and sacred stories
to show us a possible relationship where people, the land, and everything
inhabiting it, are good medicine for each other. This symbiotic relationship is born from the
alchemy of our gratitude for our earth’s many gifts. Other species can be known as models of ecological
and cultural sustainability that demonstrate the power of unity through
diversity. Our participation in this interplay
is critical for our transformation.
Gratitude for the gifts of earth’s diversity is the hallmark
of native cultures across the globe and an essential understanding for our
future health and well-being. We need to
be thankful for the plant and animal lives that sustain us taking care not to
waste or over consume. A line from a
native prayer acknowledges, “Everything we need to live a good life is here on
Mother Earth.” Kimmerer knows, along
with many others, that gratitude begets abundance and our strength lies in our
embrace of diversity.
Reciprocity is a word Kimmerer uses throughout “Braiding
Sweetgrass.” If we take care of the
earth the earth will take care of us. And we need to give back for what the earth
gives us. We need to choose leaders
rooted in service and wisdom; leaders who are willing to work for common good
and common ground with an ability to ameliorate differences; leaders who will
present us with a Bill of Responsibilities.
We need to show up and speak up for Mother Earth.
What if we all became co-creators by risking loving the
world?
