April 22, 2012, marks a 42-year history of Earth Day. It started as a movement of people to demonstrate for a healthy sustainable environment. I chose to celebrate with a visit to a natural shrine.
It was a spiritual experience walking beneath the huge Douglas Fir and Red Cedar trees in “Cathedral Grove” at MacMillian Provincial Park outside of Port Alberni on Vancouver Island. This unique west coast rain-forest, humid yet lush, provided a quiet and peaceful backdrop to trees that are over 800 years old. One of the oldest Douglas Fir trees is more than nine metres in diameter.
With that much age and stature I marvelled at what changes these trees must have witnessed over the years. And if given a chance, what sage wisdom could they share about keeping our environment healthy. I prayed that these wondrous giants would have the strength to continue living with us, to ensure that their cycle of life never expires.
Life here on earth is rare and complex. This Earth Day, I invite everyone to pause and think about ways to ensure that our future generations will continue to have a healthy world to live on.