All God's Creatures ...

Trouble and Cody

Morgan & Fish - Boston

Hey gang ...  we're still in a holding pattern for our next trip but I can guarantee you ... we're really getting antsy to go!!!!!  In the meantime, here in greater metropolitan Ridgeway, S. C., winter has settled in for real.  We've even had a bit of freezing rain - but so far it hasn't stuck around long enough to cause any problems ... thank goodness.  But, with the inclement weather it makes you think a bit more about our surroundings.  I look out the window and see the horses in the pasture down the way and I see the deer peeking around the trees trying to figure out if the coast is clear so they can come out and munch on some grass in the front yard.  The cat is hunkered down in her bed on top of Linda's car in the garage and the neighborhood dogs are sticking close to home rather than visiting with us to see if they can beg a

Linda and Ende'

Ende' - Cabo San Lucas

snack or two.  And all of a sudden you realize that the beings with whom we share this planet are truly extraordinary creatures.  It causes us to think back on the wildly diverse animals we have visited on our journeys in recent years.  The picture on the right - showing our great nephew Morgan juxtaposed with a strange fish in the Boston Aquarium symbolizes our relationship with these unique spirits.  They inhabit our world - and we inhabit theirs - but, for the most part, our paths only cross in the briefest instances. Do we fully understand how they see us - or how we see them for that matter?  We are so incredibly blessed to have the great good fortune to share our planet with these majestic beings.  We can only hope that they understand the reverence we - at least some of us - have for their families.   After all.... they do t

Beautiful Anemones - Boston

hings we can only dimly comprehend, they form shapes we are astonished by, they exhibit colors that are almost unbelievable to us!!!  They enable us to begin getting a tiny glimmer of the astonishing complexity and beauty of our universe and an infinitesimal early understanding of the interplay of all these exquisite life forms.   So - here's the deal, folks.  In the overall scheme of life on our planet, these beings - our biological relatives - bring as much to the plate as we do.  They help filter the air and water, they help rearrange the surface of the planet, they break down those pesky features that would cause us problems if left intact.  They fertilize the landscape and serve as a cleaning crew for nature's living spaces.  They fill the air with color and beauty, they stir the dust of the ground with their shaggy bodies and they remind us that love can take more forms than we could ever imagine.   And it makes us ask questions of wonder.  How in the world did that happen?  How on earth did a creature that looks like that come about?  Do those things look at me with the same amazement with which I see them?  Yes, it's all a profound mystery.  But, we wind up coming close to the answer if we work at it.  This planet and all the miracles that abound on it's hallowed surfaces are manifestations of a universal force that we can barely imagine.  But it is there!!  I'm not doing a recruiting job for a religious organization gang but, hey, how can you look at all this and not start thinking ...... "... well, some thought went into that!!!"  You look at the delicacy of some of these entities and the overwhelming power and strength of others and you marvel at the exceptional balance that has been established on our planet.  But here is the main point ... are we responsible enough to be stewards of all that has been

Gentle Leviathan

placed in front of us?  No, I'm not trying to espouse some political line about "green energy" or something but I'm pointing out that we have a real truth staring us in the face.  This is an interconnected planet.  Every creature and plant on it's face depends on all the others - as difficult as it might be to see the connection sometimes.  In my particular religious faith we are told to ".... love our neighbors as ourselves."  How does that relate to these creatures.  Well - we are reminded that these inhabitants of earth depend on us and we depend on them.  How can we not love and respect them?   So, I guess that is our assignment as we continue to wait for our next trip.  How can we use our relationship with the remarkable creatures and plants on our planet to make life on earth worthwhile?  I think we can do that.  Let's all be thinking of ways we can use our experiences to improve the quality of life for all those on our earth.  We'll be back soon so, until then, take care.  See ya.
Rick V.