In honor of Mother’s Day and Earth Day, I have asked 2 friends for their input on how we can love, honor and respect Mother Earth. I could not have said it better myself. Let’s start off with an amazingly beautiful poem.

Changed By Life

by James Kelderhouse.

Trees, creeks, gardens, lakes, and bluffs, all touched by the sky

are the special places I frequented often when I was a child,

with a sense of wonder and appreciation of the secret and sacred life

they contained, when I existed with, and was wrapped in

the winds of our shared collective mind.

I was curious about the many lives and families within these places

and was in awe of them before I was old enough

to know or question my own being,

before I was able to understand,

that the whole living community was susceptible

to the touch of my hands and large mind.

I observed, touched, and was a part of these sacred places

and other living things as a child and learned

that they could be hurt by me reaching and touching the sky.

They were as close to me as the air we all breathe,

as close as my Grandparents who taught me

to respect every being and its place.

After high school, the sacredness of these places

and the simple life my Grandparents showed me,

slowly slipped away without me noticing,

my senses began to fade,

I was shamed and forced to ride

the modern economy of over consumption, consumerism,

and maximum use of fossil energy called progress,

polluting the air and sky in order to drive and survive in modern times.

I long to return to this sacred place.

How to love and respect Mother Earth by James Kelderhouse:

Although it is important to recycle plastics, travel less, buy organic food, and use alternative energy, it is not enough to restore the clean air necessary for ecological, environmental, and human health. Only a closer relationship to earth and a respect for all of earths living beings will begin to restore physical, mental, and spiritual health to our shared world.  So encourage children in this relationship first.  Second participate and share in helping them develop it. Third, redevelop your own and show them your respect for nature.  Fourth, start a project together that considers, gives back, and restores natures’ right to coexist. Fifth, reclaim a simple life touched by the sky and in so doing your strained relationship with the earth will begin to heal and your children will observe your change and be inspired to be the next generation of change.

Our modern transportation system and long distance electric grid uses too much energy produced by burning fossil fuels, much of it lost or wasted in the transportation of food or electric power over long distances.  The surplus emissions produced by trucks carrying food long distances or coal plants supplying electricity from  far away can be reduced by producing your own or buying locally produced food from small farms.  Only a closer relationship to earth and a respect for all of earths living beings will begin to restore physical, mental, and spiritual health to our shared world.  Our modern system dependent upon maximum energy production from fossil fuels pollutes and extracts a heavy toll on the air, soil, water and all life through the drilling, mining, burning and exhaust of fossil fuels, including nuclear fuel, nuclear disaster and radiation exposure.  Fuel spills, toxic chemicals and products produced from the byproducts of oil production including chemical fertilizers and pesticides also contaminate earths’ air and water.  Children do not have to be told this, but shown natures’ way.

How to love and respect Mother Earth by Sandi McArthur:  

Think before you buy and make every decision a conscious decision.

Ask, where did this food or other product come from? How far did it travel? How was it grown, raised or produced? Does it contain harmful chemicals, GMO’s etc.? And, by whom under what conditions was it raised or grown?

When we take the time to really think through our purchases and decide we don’t want to support agriculture or production methods that harm the earth or its peoples or animals, we are making a huge statement about our commitment to honoring Mother Earth and showing our respect by how we spend our dollars and what we choose to support. Along with Conscious Decisions the concepts of Reducing, Reusing, Recycling and Refusing resonate with me and help me with my goal of living more simply and enjoying more intensely my time on this beautiful planet. – Sandi McArthur

Filed under: Spring Poems
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I’m covered in

Labrador love.

I, under the
comforter,

my dog lies above.

Stretched out

on the bed,

over my feet

he lays his big,

soft Labrador head.

I’m covered in

Labrador love.

Filed under: Poems, Winter Poems
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An ode to you, asparagus,

A friend suggested that I write -

though Moon Dog doesn’t sell you,

Deerings Market might.              

Of course you’re not as  famous

as that morel mushroom guy -

which people hunt like diamonds

underneath the cool spring sky.          

But this artist guy my  sister knew, 

living in a New York loft -

spent years of his life painting              

your phallic asparagus stock.                             

So now your portrait’s hanging

in some rich New York penthouse -

and all who see it envy, “Oh my!”

then blush, quiet as a mouse.

But for me, the way I know you best,

and upon which all can agree

is that every time I eat you,

I’ll soon smell asparagus pee.

Filed under: Poems, Spring Poems
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The lotus flower in
my pond

sends it’s roots down
deep

and from the silent darkness

come up blossoms ever
sweet.

Filed under: Poems, Summer Poems
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When I die,

I want to be a whirlwind of snow,

if just for a moment, at my passing,

gently twirling in the first snowfall of the season.

A whirling, twirling energy of love and joy

(for how else could I express what is deep inside

and what we become fully in spirit?)

I would turn and twirl down Front Street,

when the lights are shining

in the leafless trees,

and touch your face

with gentle wisps of snow.

So that you remember

what it is like to feel unfettered,

like an innocent child

who is hopeful,

knowing that life has promise,

that this sacred earth will support you

and that your soul has wings.

And perhaps you will let go

of the fears that bind you in unhappiness

and quiet your restless mind long enough

 to feel and listen

to what is deep inside of you

like a whirlwind of snow –

love

just waiting to dance.

Filed under: Fall Poems, Poems
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Having completed a few

Fall chores

I took a moment to sit

Under the beautiful

Blue sky

Listening to the birds

Singing

Watching the leaves

Of yellow and crimson

Falling

Feeling the sun’s

Healing rays

Warming

Smelling the wet soil’s

Rich compost

Decaying

Waiting for the first snow

Flakes from lofty clouds

Dancing

And giving thanks

For the abundant natural beauty

Embracing

Filed under: Fall Poems, Poems
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“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

(The best lesson my parents ever taught me.)

Sitting in the comfort of our living room,

bellies full from supper and dogs napping close by

I turned to my husband and asked,

“If China invaded the USA because

we have WMD’s , torture prisoners,

invade other countries, threaten more

and contributed to the death of over 100,000

with countless more wounded for life;

if they saw us as unrelenting terrorists

and overthrew our government today,

would we be going to work in the morning?

If Traverse City were bombed

and they began pumping water from the Great Lakes

for use overseas;

if utilities were disrupted,

could we still heat our home?

Would Tom’s and Meijer’s still be open

doing business as usual?

Would we even have money to buy food?

Would we scavenge the last carrots and potatoes

left in the garden, under the first snow?

Would the reds and oranges of the fall leaves

seem as brilliant or the snow on the cedars

as dazzling? Or even more so?

Would we join the resistance

or take in orphaned kids

and head north to live off the grid?”

“We would be in survival mode,” he replied.

“That is what it must be like for people in Iraq,” I
offered.

“I know,” he said

as if it has been
weighing heavily upon his conscious too.

Filed under: Fall Poems, Poems
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Did we really think

that war

can be quick and painless

or smart bombs
bloodless and wise?

(Wiser than those
who sent them?)

That soldiers and
mercenaries caught up in hate
would be loving

or compassion would outweigh

self righteousness
and greed?

Do you ever cry on a rainy day

mourning as a
mother whose dead child
lay in her arms

killed by a rocket

(ours, theirs, or
someone else’s)

or whose lover was
murdered or murdered in the
line of “duty”

fighting for a vengeful God,

(Muslim, Christian
or Jewish)

a homeland, a
pocket full of gold

(a years salary for 1 months labor)

or barrels of oil?

When will we
realize that the violence
of war

is not confined to the battleground

but like smoke rising from a burning forest

diffuses and orbits the earth?

What we put out
comes back to us.

We breathe it and feel it

in tears or in rage.

We transform it or
we fuel it.

And we pass it on.

Still, the lilacs
bloom.

Filed under: Poems, Summer Poems
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What if we really
knew

that life is not
about easy answers

but how we live
with the questions?

That happiness is
not the goal

rather our ability
to accept

with compassion and
equanimity

all of our
feelings?

That the business
of selling

is not about how
much

we can scam from
another

but how well we
meet their needs

with honesty and
integrity.

Wouldn’t it be
great

if religion was more about love than

judgment, shame and
blame –

a quick ego fix.

In the end do you
really think

that what counts is
that

You were always
right?

Or you managed to
avoid all your sadness?

Or you made tons of
money?

Or you called the
Sacred by a certain name?

No, my friend

There is but one
question,

“How well have you
loved?”

All else is just a
game of the mind.

Filed under: Poems, Spring Poems
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When everything
unfinished

is ok (if only for
a moment)

I stop what I’m
doing

and step outside to
notice

the splendor of
spring

I rejoice

When the morning
sun reaches

under the cedars

and the wind off
the lake is calm

the gentle, rich
fragrance of violets

hangs in the air

I breathe deeply

When wild leeks
rise five inches high

and the trillium
begin to bud

the painted turtle

suns himself

on a log in our
pond

I smile

When the song of
spring peepers

fill the night air

in a delicious,
deafening chorus

a gentle breeze
comes

through our bedroom
window

I give thanks

Filed under: Poems, Spring Poems
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