Nature In My Heart

It's concern. It's a deep and heartfelt concern for the entire planet, all of nature, the living earth. It's the fiery blossom of ire that explodes within me when I witness ignorant injustice toward nature. It's what drives me to lose friends because I tell them instinctively that I'm disgusted that they burn plastic and old computers. It's what makes me jump out of my seat and reprimand a 60-year-old woman when she throws her Tetra-Pak juice box out the bus window. It's my explosive, protective, instinctive rage when I see littering in a place as naturally beautiful and diverse as Zapaton. But, when the rage is quelled by the innocent and apologetic smiles, I realize that my concern is not natural, but learned. It was taught to me, or learned by me. And I could have just as easily been one these of the children who never knew a better way to take care of old tires, plastic bags, and three layer juice boxes. I realize that now that I have entered "The Understanding," it is my duty to bring in others as well. They will feel its depth, its heart, its importance, and they will find the same passion that I have to protect our Mother, Nature, that from which we mysteriously blossomed.

Developing a conscience is a life-long activity. I learned from my family and my friends, through stories and books, through movies and hikes through the woods. Now my goal is to infect these children with the deep concern that I possess. Starting with concepts like synergy (in nature and among humans), symbiosis, mutualism, codependence, coevolution, and COMPASSION. To me, true compassion is the same is being completely present and perceptive. Being completely aware leads to complete respect and compassion. Try it.

I am beginning to realize that they see it within me, they don't know what it is, but they see it, they're curious. They ask themselves why is it that his eyes gloss over when he talks about the mystery of creation, of evolution, of species growing together and relying on each other. Their jaws drop slightly and their brains relax, looking for connections, allowing for new modes of understanding. They see value in my perspective without knowing what it is.

The moment only lasts for as long as I can keep my (Spanish) sentences flowing and coherent. The flow eventually ebbs and I know I've lost all but a few of them. I search for eyes and find one young girl and one young man. They're still captivated. They want in.... The lesson has ended on a highly emotional note, and it is my DUTY to bring them the same intensity next lesson, if indeed I truly believe in my own perspective. And I do. I really do.