I. Ben Askedabunch flipped through the stack of solicitations in the day’s mail. One for a debilitating medical condition – “Not my problem,” Ben mumbled. One for a social services nonprofit and another for a political cause - “Not my problems. These are worthy causes, but look at this stack!” he muttered while dropping one after another into the “circular file.” The next piece of mail concerned some environmental crisis – “Not my prob…” Ben’s voice trailed off as he set this one aside.
That night Ben fell into a fitful sleep cascading him from one disjointed dream to another. Until…an ethereal figure came into sharp focus. She was gorgeous, the most beautiful thing Ben had ever seen! “You were right you know,” her voice flowed like sweet nectar, “to set that envelope aside. The environment is everyone’s concern. Not really a ‘problem’ so much as a matter of relationship with me,” she breathed.
“Relationship with you?” Ben asked. “What do you mean? Who are you anyway?”
“Oh Ben, you know me; I’m your mother, Mother Nature. Every human has some sort of relationship with me. It’s up to you to decide what that relationship will be - one of extraction and depletion OR one of borrowing and replenishment? One of domination OR of reciprocity (give and take)? Concern only for the next fiscal quarter OR for the next millennium? Just who are you - a passing visitor on Earth or are you OF the Earth? Your answers will help determine what you do about that envelope.”
Ben woke with a start. He threw on a pair of jeans and pedaled to Wanda Steppup’s house. He knew she’d been struggling with how to address these same questions. As her door swung open, they both gushed, “You’ll never believe…” and then laughed at the “jinx.”
Ben shared details about his amazing encounter with Mother Nature. Then Wanda related what she’d learned about some great practical resources for managing her environmental footprint. “Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy has these super promotions going on – Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) and Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES). (focusonenergy.com)
“But you’re so right, Ben. By living in healthy relationship with Mother Nature, our every step will support a life-giving, vibrant environment. After all, Earth is the only home we’ll ever know. It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”
That night Ben fell into a fitful sleep cascading him from one disjointed dream to another. Until…an ethereal figure came into sharp focus. She was gorgeous, the most beautiful thing Ben had ever seen! “You were right you know,” her voice flowed like sweet nectar, “to set that envelope aside. The environment is everyone’s concern. Not really a ‘problem’ so much as a matter of relationship with me,” she breathed.
“Relationship with you?” Ben asked. “What do you mean? Who are you anyway?”
“Oh Ben, you know me; I’m your mother, Mother Nature. Every human has some sort of relationship with me. It’s up to you to decide what that relationship will be - one of extraction and depletion OR one of borrowing and replenishment? One of domination OR of reciprocity (give and take)? Concern only for the next fiscal quarter OR for the next millennium? Just who are you - a passing visitor on Earth or are you OF the Earth? Your answers will help determine what you do about that envelope.”
Ben woke with a start. He threw on a pair of jeans and pedaled to Wanda Steppup’s house. He knew she’d been struggling with how to address these same questions. As her door swung open, they both gushed, “You’ll never believe…” and then laughed at the “jinx.”
Ben shared details about his amazing encounter with Mother Nature. Then Wanda related what she’d learned about some great practical resources for managing her environmental footprint. “Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy has these super promotions going on – Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) and Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES). (focusonenergy.com)
“But you’re so right, Ben. By living in healthy relationship with Mother Nature, our every step will support a life-giving, vibrant environment. After all, Earth is the only home we’ll ever know. It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”
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