Nature the Healer

As I sit in the early morning quiet, life goes on. Time passes with the dark easing into day and the songsters of the early dawn give way to a new shift. The subtle changes the sky moves through, are so worthy of a pause, a quiet moment spent in awe of an ephemeral beauty. A Maxfield Parrish of mornings with an unreal blend of pastel colors, that accent the blazing tendrils of morning cloud. It is a morning worthy of contemplation, a pondering of the why.

I mull over the extremes of our quiet life in a rural setting versus the hustle bustle of urban ways. Granted at times, our rural setting is not so quiet. Nature has its own moments of cacophony, as the jays explode with scolding, the chipmunks as well and the joyous sounds of natural life fill the morning world.

But in contrast, the busyness in nature reveals constant amazement to those who pause and observe. There are layers of stories as the interactions between players reveal themselves. Every morning holds a unique story told by those who are gracing my world at that moment. So much can be enjoyed just in your own landscape. Natural and created habitat blending with your built world, brings those stories in to mingle with your daily doings.

We are most fortunate to have many wild areas within easy reach. I can walk out into our garden and be surrounded by a forest of 12 foot tall sunflowers, towering over my head. It is a freeway of nature above as the Lesser Goldfinches swarm the flowers and the hummingbirds zip, pause and sip, back and forth, up and down. It is a busy place. Or, I can walk out my back gate and be immediately immersed in nature as well. At times we share the space with livestock but much of the time it is the occasional cottontail, browsing deer or fresh scat of the most elusive elk. Our rocky drainages this year have been lush from the monsoon rains. In some of the deeper pools we have Canyon Tree Frog tadpoles which we haven’t seen for three years. It has been a fascinating transformation of dearth to abundance as the land has gone from one of the driest years on record to over 10 inches of rain in six weeks.

To those who rarely, if ever venture out off the sidewalk or paved road, you are missing the greatest story ever told. It is life unfolding that tells the tale. But, one must show a bit of the bold and step out of the fabricated world and into the vibrant community of ALL. It is a community where we the people are merely a member, not the ultimate ruler. Where respect and appreciation of others returns rewards beyond one’s hopes. Aldo Leopold said, “We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”

When one is unfamiliar with something, it is easy to dismiss it as unworthy. Leopold also said, “The last word in ignorance is that of a man who says of a plant or animal, what good is it.” How does it benefit me. If we are part of the land community, then we don’t judge something by its monetary value. We appreciate its value by it being itself. Another thought along these lines is this: the difference in meaning between STUPID and IGNORANT. One can be ignorant because they haven’t been exposed to something. When they are faced with the real story, witness the unveiling of nature’s mysteries and still cling to ungrounded beliefs, then that is when the word stupid comes to play. Use the words of others to spur you on to discover the truth yourself. That is a journey you will always treasure and vividly remember.

When you step off the fabricated path and venture out into the wilds of nature, stride with observant eyes and a questioning mind. Be a sponge to the wonders that each step reveals.

There is no substitute to walking in the wilds even if those wilds are in your own yard. Sometimes it takes a bit of a push to get us unfocused on the daily grind and out the door for a walk. When I give one of my performances as Aldo Leopold, I end with this:

“Like winds and sunsets, wild things have been taken for granted until progress has begun to do away with them. Now we face the question of whether a still higher standard of living is worth its cost in things natural, wild and free.” I ask you to take a walk. Explore the wonders of a new place. Marvel at the beauty of an old place but looked at through new eyes. Ponder the complexity of the life before you. Look closely at the soil, the waters, plants and the animals and how they are intricately intertwined with each other, as are we, as are we. For without this tether to the natural world, we are but meaningless beings lost in the illusion of self-importance. One must wear the scent and dust of nature to truly understand the marvel and wonder that waits for all in our remaining wildlands.

Each time I venture outdoors, there is almost always some moment that says, “I’m special, remember me!” We are fortunate to live in a place where nature is close by. There are also so many incredible places not far away.

A few weeks ago, Aldo was invited to go along on a backpacking trip with a cinematography class from New Mexico State University. They are creating several short films relating to the Gila Wilderness. On June 3, 2024, the 100^thAnniversary of the Gila Wilderness Area will be celebrated. The films will be going out to 4^th grade classes all over the United States to bring the wonders of the idea of wilderness into their lives.

This was a very special trip because many of these students had never been backpacking before, let alone ventured out into a wilderness area. The Middle Fork of the Gila River is a very special place. If you wished for a magical setting for your first wild experience, this would be in your top five. The confluence of Little Bear Creek and the Middle Fork is a paradise of towering rock walls, majestic trees and water. It is an oasis of life. A nugget of wildness that gives you no opportunity to wiggle out of experiencing its beauty and grandeur.

There were signs of beaver, bear and deer and I am sure many other inhabitants if one knew how to read tracks. It is also a place that retains signs of natures power. Huge 12 foot high piles of broken logs wedged against a few stalwart trees, tell of past flood events and remind the visitor that the moods of the canyon change, be aware.

The Middle Fork of the Gila is not far from our homes but seems a universe away when you are floating on the chilled river water after a good hike down. There are so many gemstones of wildness in our part of the Southwest to embrace and enjoy. So please, go seek that tether to nature. Run your fingers slowly through the chilled stream water. Close your eyes and enjoy nature’s symphony. Relax and remember what is really important to you. Take a hike!