TREES OF LIFE:FORESTS IN PERIL
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October 25th, 2019

10/25/2019

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SPIRITUALITY AND THE NATURAL WORLD
 
The other evening, we were watching a program on television and were reminded of experiences we had with friends from the Native American community. The story was about a young woman who was a horse trainer and one of her horses was refusing to perform at the level he previously had performed. Lost as to what to do, she found a Native friend from her mother’s past, known for his abilities in horse training. He agreed to observe the horse and help her to determine what the problem was. She spent a few days at his ranch but, rather than focusing on the horse, they spent much time on long walks and discussions on life and the need to know your inner-self. The young woman had been experiencing some disappointments and emotional problems in her life which appeared hidden but, were apparently understood by her new friend. She was concerned that no time was being devoted to the horse, only these long walks and deep discussions. When she finally realized the horse was reacting to her inner emotions, as many animals do, she was able to rebuild the confidence of the horse and return him to his previous performance level.
What caught our attention was the ability of the friend to observe and understand the situation and share his Native wisdom and ways, to encourage self-evaluation. There seems to be an ability to observe and understand the inner self and the natural world, among our Native people, in a more compassionate way than our western society. Tribal elders, particularly, seem to have a spirituality to observe and understand the detail of creation and humanity beyond many of us. They also have a gentleness in the way they present themselves which aids in communicating their traditional knowledge. This depth of understanding along with the soft, gentle approach to express themselves, appears to be common among the different tribes, particularly with the elders. There are many lessons to be learned from our indigenous people and the power of empirical observation which appears to come from their spiritual relationship with the natural world and Mother Earth. Charles Eastman wrote, “In the life of the Indian there was only one inevitable duty—the duty of prayer—the daily recognition of the Unseen and Eternity. His daily devotions were more necessary to him than daily food”. Medicine Crow, of the Teton Sioux Tribe, tells us, “in our scared rites the person must have the proper spiritual attitudes to participate”. He goes on to state, “It is possible to learn the outer steps that must be accomplished in a rite without learning the inner meanings that are the key to the scared traditions”. Black Elk of the Oglala Lakota Sioux said, “I am blind and do not see the things of this world, but when the light comes from Above, it enlightens my heart and I can see, for the Eye of my heart sees everything. The heart is a sanctuary at the center of which…. The Great Spirit dwells… if the heart is pure”.  Francis Laflescher of the Omaha Tribe points out, “the real character of red people is never fully known until there has been obtained some knowledge of their ……. ideas and their conception of the Unseen Power that animates all life”. Walking Buffalo of the Stoney Tribe tells us. “The Great Spirit has provided you and me with an opportunity for study in nature’s university, the forests, the rivers, the mountains and the animals, which include us”.  
Our Native people have studied the meaning of life through empirical observation and developed a spirit filled wisdom about creation, the natural world and the inner sole of the human being. This was clearly revealed in my opening story of the young woman and her horse. Her friend was able to see into the heart of the woman and the animal and in his spiritual way, bring the two back to a respectful relationship. There is a strong message in this story for each of us. Our reliance on the classroom and text books is not sufficient if we care about the future. The wisdom of life comes from the study and observation of nature’s way! Professor Thomas Berry suggests the best way to a desirable future may rest within the traditional knowledge and wisdom of our indigenous people. I am in total agreement with Dr. Berry and believe our indigenous people have much to share with our western culture. It is time to build bridges, not walls, for together we can make a difference! We must rebuild our spiritual respect for Mother Earth, the greatest gift the Great Creator, God, has given to each one of us! Life, including human life, was an inevitable part of the story of creation and our God given intelligence has endowed us with the power to destroy or restore our home, planet Earth. We need help now but, finding that help requires reaching out to a people our culture historically suppressed and attempted to destroy their culture through forced removal from their home lands and required attendance by their children to military Christian boarding schools. These schools required the children to wear western clothing, cut their hair and adopt Christian names. Rebuilding relationships will not be easy and will require sincerity and a recognition we are far more similar than we are different! The issue we face is a universal issue that demands a global response!        
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October 10th, 2019

10/10/2019

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GLOBALISM AND THE NATURAL WORLD
 
History provides numerous examples of entire cultures that have collapsed and failed. Examples such as Easter Island, Mayans, Aztecs and Norse people of Greenland are cultures that have failed as a result of environmental failures within their immediate environments. Dr. Jerod Diamond, a professor of geography specializing in evolutionary biology and bio-geography, contributes these failures to the ecological problems inadvertently caused by the people which resulted in the destruction of the resources they depended on for survival. He identifies eight major environmental issues to be most significant in the demise of these Cultures. They were deforestation and habitat destruction, soil problems, water problems, over-hunting, over-fishing, population growth, introduction of non-indigenous species and increased per capita consumption of the people. Studies indicate the people were probably not aware of the devastating impact they were having on their environment until it was too late, which continues to be a problem today. It is important to point out again the natural world and forests in particular, provide the life sustaining elements for 80% of all living species on our planet.
There is no doubt that the concept of a global community is progressing regardless of our desires. Advanced technology, particularly in travel and communications, has accelerated this transition with little consideration for the human impacts which might occur. Worldwide markets are critical for major countries and it seems fair market principles are being debated daily. Worldwide communications allow corporate institutions to find and employ workers to produce their goods and services at a fraction of the cost of American labor. There are even considerations for a global monetary system. Yes, advancements in technology has shrunk our  world, unfortunately it has not produced more land to provide for our growing populations needs. When I review the research that has provided insight into past cultures, the two most common environmental issues found in their collapse and failure are population expansion and deforestation.
It appears, we failed to realize what we were doing when we began to interfere with the processes of the natural world. We saw Earth as belonging to us and used our new found knowledge for our own human advantage with an arrogant disregard for the well-being of the planet. Even our religious beliefs indicate we were to be dominant over all other life and we were given the intelligence to manipulate the natural world. Ignoring the human destruction to our home, planet earth, raises the question, do we have time to change? Based on past cultural failures, it is apparent our indigenous people were not perfect but, many knew their environment and shared the resources they depended upon. Dr. Berry states, “In their traditional mystique of the earth, they are emerging as one of our surest guides to a viable future”.
Approximately, ten thousand years ago civilization moved from a hunter-gather culture to an agricultural culture and human disturbance of the natural world began in earnest. Early agricultural efforts planted food bearing plants among the native plants and did not clear the land of existing vegetation. Time changed as the need to supply food for large numbers of people increased. Soon small farms began to appear and today, with modern equipment, farms are thousands of acres in size and some ranches are measured in square miles. Today’s demand for tillable soil has resulted in deforesting millions of acres worldwide. The opportunity to provide new lands for our masses has also been exhausted. Everything now demands intensive management of each individual acre including our remaining forest covered lands. The problem is; how do we define intensive management? The science of forestry, which focuses on a sustainable flow of resources from the forests, views intensive management as planting trees in plantations and selecting species that maximize the production of wood fiber per acre. Those who follow the principles of preservation, want the forest lands locked up from human intrusion and allow nature to re-establish the stands of trees after they become old and decadent. Old and decadent tree stands are unable to provide the elements required for life on our planet. Neither of these management strategies will sustain life in the future. Management must focus on keeping the individual forest communities healthy and vibrant as well as maintaining the diversity of the original vegetative cover found within the community. I call this, “Natures’ Way “, which describes the human process of trying to perpetuate the original vegetative cover, diversity and animal utilization. The problem we are having exists because scientists insist their knowledge is based on measured modes of explanation which creates a materialistic universe from simply random processes.
There are a few obvious factors we must accept today if we care about tomorrow! The power of control humans have over the natural life systems are vast in the powers of devastation but pathetically limited with the powers of renewal. There are no new lands to discover and develop on our planet and our world population is going to challenge Earth’s carrying capacity within the next 30 to 40 years. Increased population will necessitate additional deforestation for food, shelter and infrastructure. The life sustaining elements provided by forested lands and required by 80% of life systems on Earth, will shrink as deforestation efforts increase! These facts should trigger a worldwide coalition focused on finding realistic solutions for our future! We must join hands with our brothers and sisters and ignite the Eighth and Final Fire described in the Seven Fire Prophecies of the Anishinaabe People. Our grandchildren are depending upon us! Will globalization help or hinder efforts to save and renew the Natural World?                  

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