Connecting People with Nature

The Greatest Show on Earth

By William Hudson
September 6, 2006

We humans love to be entertained. Think thousands of years of legends told round the campfire,  gladiators, the Globe Theatre, the Louvre, the gargantuan television and movie industries, and all of the millions we spend just to stimulate our eyes, our ears, and our senses.

I grew up in the TV era, but since I was very little I've thought that the greatest show on earth is the earth herself. We have only to turn off the TV and step outside to see the truth in this. For those who choose to attune themselves to nature nothing that Hollywood can produce could ever compare to the magnificence of a sunrise, the brilliance of autumn leaves, the incredible intricacies of a butterfly wing, or the melodies of a wood thrush singing in a forest bedecked with wildflowers.

If we traded the time we spend in front of screens for time spent wandering, working, or just sitting still in the out of doors would we not be  richer for it? Wouldn't we wonder why we had wasted so much time with sitcoms and video games?

And guess what? Compared to all of the other diversions of our high tech society, the tickets to the greatest show on earth are cheap. There are no monthly bills, no two year contracts, and no need to upgrade our equipment. We only have to do two things to enjoy this show of shows; the first is to be there for the performance, and the second is to take care of the theater.

There is more to nature, of course, than a beautiful, ever-changing tapestry set out for our enjoyment. She is our home, our community, and our grocery store, and to enjoy her comforts, we must be willing to provide as much nurture as we receive. We need to understand the workings of the ecosystems which support us and to do what is necessary to keep these systems in good order.

Those of us who know the drama and majesty of mother nature should do all that we can to cultivate this appreciation in others, and to make sure that these great performances are preserved for our children.

In this sense, tickets to the greatest show on Earth are not free. There is a little work to be done, but it is surprisingly easy. If you want to spread the love of nature and you have children or grandchildren, make sure to plant wildflowers and hang hummingbird feeders close enough to allow them to marvel at the birds and butterflies. Find a monarch chrysalis and let it hatch inside the house. Tear the kids away from video games and take them white-water rafting, and then ask them which was more exciting. Find a place where the timberdoodles perform their dance and let them watch as they cut spirals against the setting sun. Take the kids out fishing and make a meal of what you catch. When you do, be sure to explain to them how a watershed works, what pollution is, and let them know what must be done if they hope to fish in the same spot with their children someday.

When conservationists call for help in preserving some of the open forests and fields that lend character to your community, think about what you pay for cable, and dig into your pocket. When the County Engineer proposes to turn a charming country road into a flattened, widened, throughway, or the Town Council is poised to allow a big box store to kill the small shops in your downtown, show up and tell them you like things the way they are, and rally your neighbors to join the cause. Think of how angry you might be if someone tried to take away your TV or your Ipod, and apply that same passion to keeping nature near.

And one final note: always keep your eyes and ears keenly tuned to the voices of nature. Breathe deeply, listen carefully, and look closely. The beauty that nature provides will renew you for the small sacrifices you must make to protect her. More than anything else remember that like it or not, you are a part of the continuing drama of nature. Whether you act to abuse mother earth or live in harmony with her, you too are leaving footprints on the stage of history.

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