Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

Today is warm for us. We are aware of the Cawdor fire near the Giant Sequoias, and nervous about these ancient trees being lost. Already, last year, 10% of the world's sequoias were burned. These trees have been on earth for thousands of years, and witnessed human history. This week they wrapped the survivors in aluminum foil blankets, but the danger is great. We are dependent upon trees to clean the air for us, shade us from heat and provide a spiritual connection with nature and the earth. They house the birds we love to observe, and all manner of creatures. Last summer we discovered tree frogs lived in the pines next to our cabin. It was amazing to discover they were living right with us and could jump and survive without a water source. When the trees burn they leave myriad creatures homeless and starving and drive them into people's paths where they are killed or trapped and relocated. Fire has its place in nature, but it is man who has made fire into a monster. We insist on living in the forests, destroying habitat, and then we want our structures protected at all costs. I pray we put more effort into protecting trees and animals, and share this planet. It is self destructive to do otherwise.