Landscapes: Testaments to Time

I've just returned from an extended two week tour of the West. My loads took me from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California, Colorado, across the vastness of Utah and Nevada, back into California and finally, up into Oregon. As I passed through these regions, the stark ruggedness of the land brought into focus for me just how small the human struggle is in the great scheme of things. All too often, we tend to place our struggles for power, money, security, ideology etc, over the landscape. As a specie, we see ourselves as more important than we really are. Instead of each generation hurrying about to place its stamp on the universe, they ought to just open their eyes to the wonder that surrounds them. With all of the worldly pressures around us it is easy to forget just how beautiful this earth is.

My route took me through several versions of the American desert and mountain environment. The Mojave, Great Salt Lake, and Great Basin have much in common. Of course, they can be blistering but, they can as well be extremely cold. As you rush by at 70 MPH it is easy to miss the life which abounds there. The joshua tree of the Mojave gets replaced by the grease bush of the Great Salt Lake, which in turn gets replaced by the sagebrush of the Great Basin. The desert mountains are beautiful, especially when light and shadows vie for influencing the striations of their rocky surface. How old are they? Who knows. How many variations of the human tumult have they quietly observed? It is sort of comical when you consider it. Do the jackrabbit, coyote, raven or puma ever realize just how important our human struggles are or, are they simply too preoccupied by their daily struggle for survival? Traveling through the Colorado Plateau, Wasatch, Rockies, Sierras, and Cascades revealed the imminent approach of winter. Deciduous vegetation was already beginning to change color. There was a certain briskness to the morning air and light snow was covering the summits of the Cascades. Fall has arrived in the high country with winter in hot pursuit. Deer, elk, and black bear are devouring a smorgasbord of life in an effort to prepare themselves for the onslaught of winter. They seem to not care much about the human condition. Maybe we are not as important as we believe.

My point is simple. We tend to take ourselves a bit too seriously. Yes, world events are important. The War on Terrorism, the upcoming elections, immigration, and local politics will require our undivided attention however, don't lose sight of life. Pay attention to the flights of southbound song birds and waterfowl. Observe the light changes as summer moves into fall and fall to winter. Notice the squirrel as he franticly scampers to and fro, collecting all the nuts he possibly can. Find out what your kids are up to. Are they happy? Do they enjoy school and their friends? Are you happy? What makes you happy? What is your neighbor like? Are you ready for winter? In short, are you ready for life? Regardless of how important we feel we are, the land will be here long after our demise. All one can do is, pay attention to the beauty which surrounds you, live for each moment, and be considerate of those around you who are attempting likewise.