In the Stillness

I often think back to the years when I worked as a forester in Maine, and remember special, one of a kind moments. Although at the time, I’m sure I thought these were great experiences, it’s only now that I am older that I can really appreciate their value.

One rainy, late spring morning, I found myself aching to get out of the office. I don’t remember what it was that weighed on my mind that day, but I do remember the feeling of needing some space from the world, and a safe place to cry. Surely, the forest would provide solitude. I drove down the winding Canton Point Road to an area I was responsible for managing. Even though I put on my cruising vest and took the orange roll of flagging with me, I knew I had no intention of working. Soon, I found myself sitting on a boulder the size of a VW Beetle, sobbing while the rain fell all around me. An hour went by. Eventually, my tears subsided, and I was quiet in the stillness of the newly green forest. I couldn’t cry any more or even think any more so I just sat and enjoyed the peacefulness. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught some slight movement, and there she was! A dappled fawn, probably only a few weeks old, wandered not more than ten feet from the boulder. How sweet it must be to have not a care in the world.

Our encounter was fleeting, but it was long enough. She looked up at me, I looked at her and whispered, “Thanks.” Then she was off.

So often as we go through our days, we find ourselves in need of stillness, but we reject it. Doing nothing is unfortunately viewed as unproductive in these times of multitasking, texting, and social networking. Now, I know, being still can be just as productive as being busy. It’s part of my parenting repertoire these days for my five children.

When one of them is stressed, I often recommend that they spend a few moments on the porch swing. There’s a bronze plaque hung on the porch post, visible only to the person on the swing that reads “Be Still and Know that I Am”.

On T-day in June, how about offering someone time to be alone, to be still? Whether it’s a frazzled parent, or a teacher pushed to her limits by a class anxious for summer, giving each other our time is so important.
Every project is special enough to be registered on the T-day site. Your idea may spark many others to do the same. Our monthly Together We Can Change The World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference.
Please visit our website at http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ and scroll across available service projects and add your own.

The Big Date

Back in the fall of 1989, I was scouting a tract of forest in a remote part of Riley, Maine. It was chilly enough to see my breath as I hiked up the old skid trail. Riley is known for its rugged terrain, and this was no exception. My eyes were mostly scanning the ground to make sure I had sure footing. These kind of days were what I loved most about being a forester. I had the freedom to let my thoughts wander as I continued up the mountainside.
A loud breathy snort brought me back to attention. Up ahead about 20 feet was an enormous bull moose! Now, these guys run about 1500 lbs and 6 feet tall at shoulder height. To make matters worse, it was their rut, or mating season. Guess who he wanted to be his date?
Panic stricken, I looked all around for a place to hide, eventually crouching behind a huge spruce. Once I knew I was safe from Bullwinkle’s advances, all I could think of was how ‘wicked cool’ this was! I continued to watch the magnificent animal until he was out of sight. My fear had been transformed into appreciation for the majesty of nature.

These can be very scary times for people. Maybe the best thing you can do for someone is to be a safe place. Putting some distance between them and their fears might allow a different perspective on the problem.

Together We Can Change the World, Inc. isn’t just about the big projects. It’s about what we do in our every day lives to make things a little better.

Our monthly Together We Can Change the World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference, big or small.
Please visit our website at www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com, scroll across available service projects and add your own.