Easter Life

This year Easter in Michigan was the way Easter ought to be--mild weather, greening grass, flowering bushes and trees, sunshine, soft breezes, daffodils abloom. As sad as I was during Holy Week, the Mystery of New Life touched me on Easter Sunday and has remained all week. How does that happen, I always wonder? In one sense, I know. But still, just like the emergence of new life each spring, I am amazed, awed, surprised by Grace.

In the midst of writing this, I took Tessa out and chatted with the young couple next door and their sweet kids about their trip to a Tigers game today. The Tigers generously won the game, too! Then, we did something we've put off since Tessa arrived nearly two years ago. We let our dogs meet. Tucker is a medium sized dog, pretty loud and rambunctious, but not mean. After an initial snapping and growling, they proceeded with the smelling of rear ends ritual, sending the children into gales of laughter. Loose in their fenced in yard, she and Tucker virtually ignored each other for about 10 minutes. So another barrier has been broken and for some reason it felt like part of Easter joy.

I spent most of yesterday at a workshop on website development. It was challenging and I came away realizing both how much I do know and mostly, how much I don't. My admiration for the brilliance of the minds that have created the internet was only increased. I'm going to start managing the website for Fenner Nature Center, which I will enjoy.

So what if some hard things have happened? I'm being gifted with remembering that there are always new opportunities and, if I'm willing to look and listen, beauty everywhere. I am grateful!

An "unholy" Holy Week

I'm watching a lovely sunset out my window. What a beautiful week it has been. And I, considered by many to be a "good Christian", have not gone to one of the services offered each day this week. Why not, I wonder?

Did I not want to walk the Way of the Cross, to watch a while with Jesus, to mourn with others his terrible death? Seems like I've been mourning all week--for my own wounds and those of people I love, for those who are no longer in my life. For the tragic and bestial treatment of so many persons, especially women and girls, around the world every single day. For the spouting of hateful words and the encouragement of violent actions (no matter which political extreme) which are done not only abroad, but here in the America we love, in the name of "being right." For the callous exploitation of fearful and uncertain people by those who care not a whit for them, but only want to make names (read money) for themselves. For the endless raping of earth and her inhabitants for the privilege of the wealthy few, meaning most of us. I weep for and with Jesus.

Yet somehow, though I love my church and her people, I could not bring myself to participate in yet another "just like every year" series of Holy Week events. I apologize to those clergy and other leaders whom I respect and care for. I'm not blaming you; well, not exactly. But I continue to believe that the Christian church, regardless of its permutations, is miserably failing to address the needs of this world or to live up to the Christ whom we profess to love. We (and I include myself) are selfish, greedy, fearful, and mired in self-satisfaction and certitude, hoping that if we just go through the right motions and say the right words and believe the right doctrine--hocus-pocus! we'll all be saved. Hmph!! OK, so maybe I'm a bit cynical or over-dramatic. Or, maybe I'm at least a little bit right.

If you read this after tomorrow, Blessed Easter! May our faith be ignited and explode with hope and joy and love.

A Weekend at Fenner

Last weekend was the annual Maple Syrup Festival at Fenner Nature Center, a wonderful tract of land right in the midst of the city, which tends to be under-appreciated by the community at large.

But when we have our annual festivals-- this one in March, Apple Butter in October, people come by the droves and they remind us hard-core supporters of the reason we work so hard to keep Fenner's life going.

I worked at the used book sale and talked with people from all walks of life, many races and cultures. Several indicated they'd like to volunteer, which is music to our ears! In spite of cold, snow/rain weather, there was a steady flow of individuals, couples, families--many families--through the two days. Seeing the diversity in our community is one of the joys of these events.

Ironically, the City of Lansing, which has severely cut back on funds to support Fenner's nature education programming, the core of the Center's reason for being, is now currently seeking a large grant to "fix up", read introduce humans, to a large natural parcel across the street from Fenner.

My husband, Norris Ingells, a respected journalist, photographer and amateur naturalist, spent hours and hours on the River Trail in that area. He was strongly opposed to bringing in fill dirt and picnic tables and play equipment, etc., which he believed would ruin the natural character, the ecosystem, of Crego Park, as well as affect the adjoining acres of natural land, running from the Zoo to Hawk Island Park.

Lansing has many, many parks for human play. It has a lovely River Trail from which folks can observe nature. It doesn't need another "gentrified" park. It needs to maintain it's unique natural system for the sake of "the otherkinds", not just humankind. It is my understanding that with staff cuts, they won't have enough people to maintain yet another park. City officials, particularly the Parks and Recreation Department, need to look at the big picture here. They need to recognize the absolute necessity of nature and environmental education to our population, now and in the future.

So I will be pontificating on this subject whenever and wherever I can in the weeks to come. This will give me something to help me through another springtime without my partner. And it will be worth the effort, regardless of what "the powers" decide.

Oh yes, I need to remember to breathe, laugh, look, and love! You, too!

Actually, it may be a little late for lambing, but the sheep farm at MSU is such fun to visit this time of year. You can watch the little ones "gamboling" about. New life. New hope. Spring. Ahhhhh!