November 20, 2023 – A

"The world is too much with us
late and soon" (William Wordsworth).
And, because of that,
we have to take extreme measures
to save ourselves from the impact
of the world
and restore our souls.

We have to take regular retreats
into the silence,
into the natural world
(Taking "Nature Baths," for instance),
into Art, Beauty and Music.

We are the hope of the world,
and the hope of ourselves,
but not automatically,
not "naturally."

We have to mean it,
intend it,
be deliberate,
regular
and routine about it.

We are nature's way of 
recovering the way of nature
and instilling it into the makeup
of daily life.

Native Americans
and indigenous peoples around the world
would understand what I'm talking about.
Everybody else, not so much.

It takes being still and quiet
on a regular basis
to hear and see what is going on. 

We have to withdraw from this world
that is too much with us
in order to engage the world beyond this world,
and know what needs to be done,
when, where and how,
about our alienation from the natural world
of wonder and beauty--
which is our natural habitat--
and restore our rightful place
in the natural order of things.

And live from there
in being stewards of the earth
again,
finally,
at last.

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