Let your surroundings inspire change

This is my view as I write. I’m near the water tower at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, not far from SMWC’s Hulman Hall, along a short path full of nature’s beauty.

I know the Sisters of Providence concluded daily Mass moments ago because I heard the noon bells chiming at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. I used my phone to capture this video and these photos for you. Enjoy a 28 second video of the bells here.At this time of day the sisters who live or minister here are on their way to the Providence Hall dining room for lunch. It’s rare for them not to enjoy fresh, organic mixed greens from their very own gardens this time of year. Asparagus from the garden was on the menu yesterday. Yum! The gardens also provide hands-on education for the interns who come here year round to learn the ins and outs of a working organic farm.

Not far from the hustle and bustle of those gardens is where I’ve thrown down a blanket along this path, kicked off my sandals and am pecking away on this laptop.

Some young Virginia Creeper leaves tickle my toes when a breeze comes along.

As I walked along the path before nestling in this spot I thanked God with each step for so much natural awesomeness smiling back at me.

The smell of honeysuckle is strong — better than any candle one could buy. I smelled the honeysuckle before I saw it. I paused and took a deep breath. Thank you, God, for the blessing of that unexpected fragrance.

Then I saw a Mulberry tree. It’s early, but there are some ripe berries. It reminds me of picking and eating them as a child. Thank you, God, for the berries and fond memories.

This blue butterfly flitters around the ground, pausing occasionally to show off her colors as she opens and closes her wings. Another blessing.

There are trees of many varieties in this small cove — Oak, Tulip, Locust, Maple and Sycamore, to name a few. My eyes search to investigate a rustling noise I hear off yonder. It’s a squirrel running back and forth on a tree limb. Isn’t this Sycamore tree beautiful?!

I can sometimes take the sounds of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods for granted, but in this moment I am paying attention to every bird’s song, frog’s croak and bee and mosquito buzz.

June 5 is World Environment Day (WED). It’s quite possible you’ve never heard of it, but it was first celebrated in 1974!

According to wed2016.com, WED is the United Nations’ most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Above all, WED serves as the ‘people’s day’ for doing something to take care of Earth or become an agent of change. That ‘something’ can be focused locally, nationally or globally; it can be a solo action or involve a crowd.

This year’s theme, Go Wild for Life, shines a spotlight on the booming illegal trade in wildlife products which is eroding Earth’s precious biodiversity and driving whole species to the brink of extinction. The killing and smuggling are also undermining economies and ecosystems, fueling organized crime, and feeding corruption and insecurity across the globe, says the United Nations.

Don’t let the heaviness of the theme scare you off from making any small change that is doable in your life. A step in the right direction could be as small as considering a fair trade item from Linden Leaf Gifts the next time you give a gift. Something I’ve learned from the Sisters of Providence and the staff at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice is not to get overwhelmed by ALL that needs to be or can be done. Do what YOU can do in your corner of the world to protect the environment.

Saint Mother Theodore Guerin said, “We are not called upon to do all the good possible, but only that which we can do.”

Celebrate World Environment Day by making at least one change toward improving the environment in your little part of the world. Even if the first step is consciously putting yourself in nature to be aware of your surroundings and then see where that leads you!