Dear Mother Earth,

Happy Birthday!
(of sorts)

Much gratitude for providing peace, solitude, beauty, life sustaining ecosystems, fresh air, seasons and great soil.

For letting me take from you, only to give back what I can.

For groundbreaking sunsets where I sat silently searching my soul for forgiveness, love, testimony, future, choices, strength; only to be given those things and more.

For conveniently locating rocks big enough for a front row seat in the grand view of your palace.

For letting me traverse your outer layers, marking and learning each time I do.

For your mystery, your truths, your happiness and spirit; I have learned from you.

*

I offer a years collection of glass with hope that it makes a dent in my usage.

May I treat you as well as you have so graciously treated me.

Much love and appreciation in keeping me alive and happy,

One of your grateful stewards,

Jen

Always think about this song by Don Henley each year Earth Day rolls around. Find a short audio clip on Itunes. Oh, and this one too of course.

Goodbye to a River

(don henley/stan lynch/jai winding/frank simes) The rains have come early, they say We’re all gonna wash away Well, that’s all right with me If heaven’s torrent can wash clean The arrogance that lies unseen In the damage done since we have gone Where we ought not to be Goodbye to a river Goodbye to a river So long Lakes and levees, dams and locks They put that river in a box It was running wild And men must have control We live our lives in starts and fits We lose our wonder bit by bit We condescend and in the end We lose our very souls Goodbye to a river Goodbye to a river So long The dirty water washes down Poisoning the common ground Taking sins of farm and town And bearing them away The captains of industry And their tools on the hill They’re killing everything divine What will I tell this child of mine (solo) I make a church out of words As the years dull my senses And I try to hold on to the world that I knew I struggle to cross generational fences And the beauty that still remains, I can touch it through you Goodbye to a river Goodbye to a river So long Goodbye to a river Goodbye to a river So long Goodbye to a river Goodbye to a river So long Goodbye to a river Goodbye to a river Roll on