Author Archives: Leo Denton

Sharing our Interconnected Earth

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Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park, photograghed by Paul Symington on October 15, 2005.

We – Earthlings – animals, plants, and more – trillions of us – belonging to millions of species – all contribute to Earth’s incredibly wondrous biosphere. Together we can share and enjoy this planet as our home. As intelligent human beings, we can also share and enjoy the incredible richness of thousands of cultures, religions, philosophies, and spoken languages. Our biological and cultural diversity is an ever-flowing fountain for our humanity.

Yet in the midst of such wonder we are afraid. We find ourselves disconnected, small, caught up in the “rat race,” and when we think deeply, the shortness of our lives weighs upon us. Yet our capabilities are extraordinary. Of course, we easily make mistakes and are in need of continual growth, but the diverse gifts that lie deepest inside of each of us can bring us such joys, life, meaning … In a word, we can LOVE – loving the WHOLE and all individuals.

About five years ago, I had a dream where I ran up to a man who was considered a subversive radical, and I challenged his theories. But he just replied in a friendly manner that “The positive energies of government are far more compelling than the negative.” Realizing that he was not so dangerous, I asked him to be more specific. He replied, “Human cooperation should strive toward being enlightening, empowering, and unifying.”

Perhaps the beauty and resilience of Earth’s diverse, interconnected eco-systems can teach us that it’s time to stop racing – become still – look beyond our perspective – and join hands for the benefit of All.

We’re having a planning meeting for this year’s Dauphin Island Hands Across the Sand. We’ll meet at 5:30, Thursday evening, May 19, at Ryan’s restaurant (4439 Rangeline Rd in Tillman’s Corner). Ryan’s has a meeting room reserved for us. So if you’re interested, please come for our eating meeting (everyone pays for their own meal). Google Map for Ryan’s: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Proof! Warblers Can Read!

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Swallow-tailed kite

Swallow-tailed kite, photograph by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A dead warbler who fell in my backyard after flying across the gulf.

A dead warbler who fell in my backyard after flying across the gulf. Photographed April 2, 2011.

Our "clean beaches" "among the finest in the world." Photographed on Little Dauphin Island just a few weeks ago on March 17, 2011.

Our "clean beaches" "among the finest in the world." Photographed on Little Dauphin Island just a few weeks ago on March 17, 2011. Various facilities including the Dauphin Island Sea Lab in the background.

 

 “Seen anything?” I asked at the Shell Mounds on Dauphin Island (a world class birding area). “No,” the Michigan birder replied, “but last year my brother came here and saw 10 ‘lifetime birds’ in 20 minutes.” “Wow,” I said, “and last year was a down year.” “Then, what would you call this year! Can’t believe my wife and I came 1100 miles for this! Do you expect any ‘fallouts’ soon?” “Not really,” I answered, “we’ve had the storms and cool, strong north winds to produce ‘fallouts’ several times but the birds just aren’t arriving in any numbers at all.”

Everyone I’ve asked says this is “the worse spring in memory.” The warblers, the highlight for many birders, have been the most conspicuous in their absence. Most birders have only seen a few warblers. So where are the birds this spring? One birder from Georgia said, “I just hope they’re still alive.”

During the spring migrations, in good years, like 2009, I see hundreds of colorful warblers of more than 20 species. Even in off years, I see around a hundred warblers of a dozen or so species. This year, after many outings, I’ve seen just one migrating warbler, a hooded warbler (not counting the one that fell dead in my backyard).

Like all years, this spring has had some highlights. My son, Nicholas, saw a swallow-tailed kite. These magnificent birds generally fly up and down the Dauphin Island sand dunes and above the wooded areas of Dauphin Island. Several in my family have also seen some bald eagles near Bay Front Park in Alabama Port. I have also seen some orioles, finches, kingbirds, and vireos. Unfortunately, these have shown up in much fewer numbers and varieties than usual.

On Dauphin Island, even the non-migrants are a fewer in number. Woodpeckers, wrens, thrashers, sparrows, blue jays, cardinals, towhees, and mockingbirds are noticeably fewer.

Somehow, according to experts, the birds, just like the humans, have become alarmed after reading reports from “various media outlets.” After all, according to the experts, it’s “fair to say that the oil is indeed gone.” But somehow, the birds too have failed to close “the gap between the public perception of the oil spill and the reality of where we stand.” And where do the experts say we stand? “The seafood appears to be abundant and is indeed safe to eat while the beaches are among the finest in the world.” So if you happen to see any gullible migrating birds, please pass the word along that all is well in the gulf and the surrounding areas. Also be sure to warn the birds about the “clear and certain danger” of “various media elements” who might cast doubts on the experts who say that there are “no ecological dangers” or “grave concerns” for the public to worry about … only “questions” of “academic interest” (for examples of such expert quotes see http://oil.disl.org/pdf/DHOSPerspective.pdf – for examples of irresponsible media keep reading Umpteen Horizons).

Umpteen Horizons Dreams

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In the face of adversity, what’s the difference between “try” and “triumph?” Last night I had some interesting sets of dreams. Each time I woke up one word would come to mind right away – then I’d go back to sleep:

  • first dreams – “misunderstood”
  • second dreams – “persecuted”
  • third dreams – “upbeat”

When I woke up the third time, I asked myself, how can I remember these words? MUP, no; PUM, no. UMP or better UMPH, yeah, as in the “umph!” of Umpteen Horizons – and “umph!” as in the difference between “try” and “triumph!”

When I got up in the morning from my bed, other words came to mind right away from “umpteen:” T for “truth” as in conveying and being faithful to the “truth;” E for “eternal” as in living with all time frames in mind and getting beyond our individual interests; E for “energetic” as in working hard; N for focusing on and meeting the “needs” of others “now.” 

There’s a clear story coming out of Wikileaks. The “powers-that-be” regularly lie as just part of way they do business. Why should we believe a government who does not tell us the true scope of an ongoing disaster? Why does it take independent researchers using standard methods only hours to figure out how much oil is spewing from the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster? And why are these independent researchers persecuted (see also Empower News tab above and check Gulf Coast news)? And why should we trust the upcoming better-late-than-never government health study? Why should anybody trust the U.S. government when several U.S. administrations including the present one worked with China to derail international efforts to protect the environment?

Of course, not all is lost, people, like the independent researchers, like us, can make a difference. For example, in the health arena, an important Gulf Coast health study was released yesterday. It was conducted by Tulane University’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy (DRLA) and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, and many volunteers helped to make this study possible. This study documents that large numbers of people in coastal communities believe that they have been exposed to oil and dispersants and have suffered from the affects of oil and dispersants (“48 percent of those surveyed reported an unusual spike of at least one health symptom”).

As Jesus said, “Blest are you who are persecuted, insulted, misunderstood … be glad and upbeat … you are the salt and light of the Earth!” (see Matthew 5). You are needed and together we will make a difference!

So, if you possibly can, come join the volunteers who are helping to build a quarter mile of oyster reef at Helen Wood Park in Mobile, just north of Dog River, on March 19, 8:00 to noon!

Lyrics from “Don’t look back” (video on left):

Don’t look back a new day is breakin

It’s been too long since I felt this way

I don’t mind where I get taken

The road is callin, today is the day …

(for full lyrics go to Zone Lyrics)

Reflections on the Key Story

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Everyone reflects, but do we share?

Everyone reflects, but do we share?

Reflection can be a source of joy and hope

Reflection can be a source of joy and hope

Reflections can go beyond words

Reflections can go beyond words

Reflections can change our lives

Reflections can change our lives

 Earlier this month was the first time I had shared the key story in a public way. I didn’t know what to expect, but I learned about children, connectedness, hope, and much more from your reflections.

As I said in the key story, I “rarely” shared the things that inspired me as a child. This was in part because I was afraid to share. Yet from the responses I got from the key story, it seems that many children are inspired by stories of people who love heroically and inspired by people they know, particularly parents, grandparents, brothers, and sisters.

Several people recalled for me the value of simple, heart-felt prayer (“God, help me!” in the key story). Several people also mentioned how God had worked in unexpected ways in their lives. Surprising help or insight came, not so much out of the blue, but out of the unexpected corners of life that could have been overlooked. One person quoted Jeremiah the prophet, “When you look for me [God], you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you.”

Several people spoke of the joy and hope that comes from God’s amazing work in their lives. But of course we all struggle with God. For example, I sometimes think that I don’t have what I need, to the things I feel called to do. So I must remind myself of something a friend said to me about a big journey he needed to make: “I keep asking God for a plane, but it looks like God’s just giving me skates. But I know God answers prayers, so I’m thinking that I have what I need for today, and it’s time to start skating.”

I and others have asked, “But how does God work in our lives?” The best answer I have is that God acts in God’s own way, not tied down in any way, the Spirit blows where the Spirit wills, yet in love God is always steadfast.

Another person reflecting on the difficulty of life and power of goodness in life said, “I do believe in a Higher Power who works to guide things towards our benefit.” Of course, we need to do our part too.

Another friend spoke about how prayer has always been natural and spontaneous in her life but that she struggled with God’s apparent silence. Thinking more she said, “I have seemingly been led to be with the right people and in the right places for great things to happen in my life.” Then reflecting further she continued, “Wait! That’s it. It’s as if God is saying right now, ‘Duh, I’m speaking to you! And you know it and recognize me, too!’ I guess I should stop waiting for a person in white robes to sit down and have a conversation with me. Maybe no words are needed at all.”

But why should we worry about God at all? Isn’t what we see in life enough? Why invent God? I have no argument with the many wonderful people, who are agnostics or atheists, because even with my best efforts I am unable to comprehend or describe God. Yet I must try because I do know, however incompletely, that God worries about each of us – and wonder of wonders God is deeply and infinitely in love with each of us for our own good. Another person shared what she has learned about people and I think it reflects in many ways God’s passion for each of us: “My face holds tears because love knocks me over and squeezes me tight. And I wish people in the whole world knew each other more closely. Last semester, I suddenly was able to word this more clearly – the power I felt coming from [realizing] … that every person has lived through moments that squeezed till their eyes brimmed over and poured tears. Every person – the kids in our class, our neighbors, our cousins and brothers and sisters, me – have lived through experiences we can’t imagine: experiences where their hearts cried out, and they made brave decisions – that no one ever knew of but they did so still. I want to love each person for these experiences and hug them for they are amazing. And even before I have heard a person’s story, I can appreciate, believe in, and love them because I know there is a genuine soul inside them.”

Thanks for everyone’s reflections, smiles, and words! I learned a lot – let’s keep sharing …