Cool air reached my lungs as I took a deep breath. Stepping outside, I surveyed our yard. I continued to do so as I walked down the driveway, in preparation for my run. I used to have big plans for this place, and now they are changing.
We moved to our house in 2020, just as the coronavirus pandemic was gaining steam. I wanted to have more land to utilize for growing food. This home was not in great condition, but I saw potential.
Nearly four years later, this property looks much different than it used to. We have worked hard to care for and repair it.
Future plans included clearing trees for both a greenhouse and a pond. But now I’m not so sure.
As I’ve grown in my spiritual life, I’ve found such value in the environment that surrounds me. This land is sacred. It’s special.
The trees house birds and many other creatures. I used to think these animals could easily move to a new home if we cut trees, but really, is this the right way?
Creating a pond would be unnatural for our particular landscape, and it would take a lot of work for it to function smoothly. It probably would be fed by run off, and we would need to aerate it. It could be a mess, and a lot of trouble.
There is a “perfect” place for my greenhouse near my raised bed garden, but we would have to cut a lot of trees. Why not use a different area instead?
I know deep down that I must get out of the mindset of subduing the land. I need to value it for what it is, while helping the native population along in creating, and not destroying, habitat.
I look at a robin and it stares back at me. I scan the woods for the family of deer who visits our land on a regular basis. There are squirrels, possums, raccoons, and foxes. Birds, pollinators, and insects galore.
I know it is time for me to think beyond myself, and make decisions based on something greater.
This Sacred Life 