07.06.08
Let Your Light Shine for the Environment
Chicory is in bloom right now. Each of its flowers lasts for only a day, so thankfully, it only opens up a few of them at a time, allowing us to enjoy them longer. Chicory is also know as the ragged sailor–probably because of how the ends of the petals look tattered.
During the summer, the First Unitarian Universalists Church of Columbus has the services conducted by laypersons. My friend Jack Wisniewski and I did today’s service with a focus on what we can do to help the environment. Below is the text of my presentation, which followed Jack’s presentation on the importance of living with integrity and speaking out for those things we care about.
Let Your Light Shine
I spend a lot of quiet time in the wetlands by the Olentangy River. The waters of the wetlands rise and fall according to the rainfall. When the water levels were low, I saw a great egret stride confidently through the waters to catch the large fish trapped in the shallows. A killdeer couple took up residence on a newly formed sandbar and vigilantly guarded their ground nest.
I was delighted the first time I spied a light-grey catbird who has migrated to the wetlands for the summer, even though she greeted me with loud alarm calls for being too close to her nest.
For weeks, I waited in anticipation for the mulberries to ripen from white to red to purple, so I could enjoy their sweet taste.