Photo from Anishinaabe Wild Rice Experience
Happily, we may be old, or at least I am, but the experience of being on the water gets old.
We commented on the empty nests of the migratory ospreys and this isn't the season for the turtles and snakes so abundant in Spring. Yet within a few minutes we'd spotted blue herons and kingfishers and egrets. On our return trip a bald eagle flew past and into a tree. We also paddled into a stand of wild rice, always surprising because getting through what appear to be fragile stalks demonstrates how strong and resilient they are.
This junket of just over an hour on the water was meaningful in a bunch of ways.
The wild rice is close to the mouth of the Salmon River and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. It seemed a good place to be during Truth and Reconciliation Week, an invitation to repentance and reflection.
This is Creation Time in the Christian year and we were surrounded by the wonders of the natural world with a sense that our human hubris must give way to humility and appreciation.
As United Church members we are always asking where we see the signs of positive change in the midst of environmental despair and I thought of the recent update from the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan which shared that after 30 years of effort this ecosystem continues to improve, albeit with lots still to do.
We always feel younger at heart when we are outdoors and seeing creatures lifts our spirits. Even seeing the reflection of the water at play on the shoreline willow trees was a delight.
Take that, arthritic knees and hips!...Is it time for a nap yet?
2 comments:
We are blessed(my wife would choose another word, such as "infested") with having lots of creatures on our property in the County. Lots of toads, snakes(I haven't told my wife I think they are nesting under our front step) and others including fishers. One of the things I like about taking our puppy out last thing at night is seeing all the toads near our front door. We see the eagles flying over us every day and occasionally coyotes resting in our backyard. I love it all.
Honestly is important in relationships, Roger, but keeping mum on the "brood of vipers" might be a good plan!
Post a Comment