Today, I offer you a guest post from Rev. Candace McKibben, my beloved friend and partner in all things ritual. The photos are by the always amazing David Moynahan. There’s more to come on bears, and restoring them to their deserved sacred status, but we feel satisfied with this start. This column appeared in the Tallahassee Democrat, Saturday, November 28, page 1C. The Sacredness of Life November 26, 2015 Rev. Candace McKibben About a month ago now, I was … Continue
“I keep vigil…. For those who suffer, and for those who keep vigil.”* This was my unexpected assignment on Saturday, as Jeff and I walked a remote outer stretch of St. Vincent Island. I came upon a red knot hunkered down at the water’s edge, a bundle of feathers pressed against the sand. We’d been admiring the knots as they moved through north Florida on their migration, 5 to 10 at a time, mostly. They feed voraciously, plunging their bills over … Continue
When worldly events are too hard, or sad–especially then–we need to take time to realign ourselves with life rebuilding the world all around us. Life and death happen all the time, everywhere, in the natural world, and never is one creature cruel to another, even as they must eat. I saw a ruddy turnstone down the beach, stamping around in an intriguing fashion, so I quietly sat nearby, interested in what she was up to. Here in the sand is … Continue
I stood in the Suwannee River this afternoon, trying to reground myself after the tragic, state-sanctioned bear slaughter in Florida this weekend. What is this shadow we humans must cast, on every other living thing? Share On: … Continue
Dear Friends: Many, many people are deeply disturbed by the hunt planned for the day after tomorrow. Many wonder what they can do, tell me they feel powerless. Sometimes I do, too. All I know is to stay engaged and keep talking. Don’t go numb. Call your local radio stations, TV stations, use your social networking skills. Call your legislators, yet again. Call your minister, pastor, rabbi. Ask them to speak from the pulpit. Send a letter to the editor. Go to … Continue
On a Sunday evening I went for a brief walk in some coastal woods with my friends Jean and Neil. And what did we come upon? So many people are seeing mothers with young cubs, 2,3,4 young cubs. Have each of us found some way to speak for the bears? Is there another phone call you might make, to someone who might know someone with power to affect this tragic unfolding? Here is what the writer Alice Walker says: “The … Continue
This article appeared in the Tallahassee Democrat yesterday. It’s a much shortened version of the column I sent you last week. Since it’s not available on line (and why not?? Ask for it!), I scanned it for you. Please send far and wide. Be their voice….. Share On: … Continue
On the last day of August, we paddled a clear forest creek, for pleasure. The current slipped my kayak around cypress knees and beneath the arms of tupelo gum, but my mind was wrapped around black bears: just days earlier, the state wildlife agency had voted to open a hunting season on them. As we left the woods, a black bear cub galloped across the dirt road in front of our car. The young animal’s hind legs seemed longer than … Continue
Last Sunday, I almost got a speeding ticket. In a state park, no less. At the hand of an FWC law-enforcement officer, no less. There are more ironies than you might imagine wrapped up in that incident. When I share this news with my friend Crystal, you will be able to hear her laughing way down in Wakulla County. She followed me in her car a few weeks ago, and later reported that I drove her mad. “Nobody goes the … Continue
Sharp of scute and golden-eyed, a gang of small alligators occupied a palm island off to the side of the river. Like lengths of bright leather, they belted the dried-down mud. We wedged our kayaks among some tree roots downriver, respectfully distant. We wanted to be with them for awhile, but we did not want to be rushed by their mama. As the foot-long gators grew used to our presence, they resumed their morning, sliding and diving and leaping through … Continue