There's Gotta Be a Better Way

A couple weeks ago I received an email from a neighboring landowner. Since my husband and I ride through his property with our horses to get to the nearby State Land, this landowner was being kind enough to inform us that there would be loggers working for a few weeks on this section of his property removing any Ash trees. It was not surprising because many landowners in the area have been removing their Ash trees before they can get infected with the Ash borer, a non-native Asian beetle that infests and kills all varieties of North American Ash species. Once infested, the tree usually dies within 2-4 years. Although the DEC is taking steps for early detection of the Ash borer in various NY counties, they are also cautioning landowners to not act without a complete understanding of their options, to avoid the unnecessary loss of these, and other, trees.

I didn't expect that this:

would turn into this:

and this:

or this:

Caused by this massive piece of machinery:

The unexpected devastation of valuable forest and trees to get a few Ash trees is mind-boggling to me. I found walking through this once beautiful forest extremely painful. And yet, it reminded me of Michael Jackson's Earth Song Video, beautiful in its message, but so difficult to comprehend how we, humanity, could cause so much destruction for a few bucks.

There's gotta be a better way!

Could we use something else that would be a little bit more kind and gentle to Mother Earth and all other life forms on her that we are so reliant on for our own existence?

Could we find a way to be better at inventing things to be used for the well-being of the very planet we live on, rather than destroying her?

Can we find it within ourselves to respect and honor all life over our own greed?

Dearest Mother Earth, Lady Gaia...

I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I love you! I thank you!

I'm sorry...because I am part of the collective human consciousness that has led up to this ruin and waste.

Please forgive me...because I am awake and know that what I do to you, I have done to myself.

I love you...because YOU ARE!

I thank you...because you have supported me through many lifetimes. You have fed me, clothed me and nurtured me. You have given of yourself so that I may experience life.

I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I love you! I thank you!