Beside Restful Waters
by Greg Hermann

“… my list of loving behaviors
- Nurturing health and well-being
- Protection from harm
- Encouraging individual growth and development
- Desire to be together
- Generous sharing of resources
- Working together for a common goal
- Celebration of shared values
- Interdependence
- Sacrifice by one for the other
- Creation of beauty”
Robin Wall Kimmerer: Braiding Sweetgrass
Dr. Kimmerer is sharing this list with a class of her botany students. She poses this question to her students:
“What do you suppose would happen if people believed the crazy notion that the earth loved them back?”
“One student summed it up: ‘You wouldn’t harm what gives you love.’”
I wouldn’t harm one who gives me love.
I am going through another change in my personal love journey. My eyes have become much more ….. I am not sure how to put it in to words. I am growing intensely more connected to – aware of – in love with the beauty and nature of Mother Earth as my lover. I am moved by this transformation.
I am moved to pain, frustration, and hostility toward a world who seeks to destroy my lover, my Mother Earth, our Mother Earth. The challenge is to peacefully engage these emotions so I can put them to into a lifestyle that brings us together toward a more common ground, to a more loving relationship with our lover.
Imagine a person who recognizes the lover in our Mother Earth.
Imagine a society who recognizes the lover in our Mother Earth.
Imagine we are those people.
Imagine we are creating this society.
Namaste’