More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“Look thy last on all things lovely every hour.”
Gems like this life long mission statement are salted throughout the book.
I never knew when such emotions would be triggered: an especially beautiful sunset; standing under the trees when the sun suddenly burst from behind a cloud and a bird sang; sitting in the absolute hush of some ancient cathedral. At moments such as those, I felt strongly that I was within some great spiritual power—God. And as I moved through life I would gradually learn how to seek strength from this Power, this source of all energy,
The continuity of my thought processes linked the child that I once was to the young woman I had become.
A thread she weaves throughout the book as she grows and develops into her aging AND sage-ing years.
Nature was almost always so beautiful and so spiritually enriching; the man-made world seemed so often horribly ugly and spiritually impoverished.
On the other hand, I have encountered a number of people with a strong faith in God who shrug off their own human responsibilities, believing that everything is safely “in God’s hands.”
Particularly in 2022, if we reverence Life, nature, and health, we must not shrug off our human responsibilities to speak clearly and act wisely in our own communities.
Gradually, my sense of loss was purged of bitterness, and the futile railing against fate was stilled.
My reasons for hope are fourfold: (1) the human brain; (2) the resilience of nature; (3) the energy and enthusiasm that is found or can be kindled among young people worldwide; and (4) the indomitable human spirit.
This dark side of technology is disastrous because of the huge and constantly increasing number of humans who rely on the finite resources of the planet and, especially, because of the greedy, selfish, materialistic Western lifestyle that has influenced almost all cultures around the globe. A lifestyle that drives people, in order to be successful, to join in the unbecoming scramble to acquire wealth, to acquire more and more and ever more “stuff.”
Albert Schweitzer wrote: “A man who possesses a veneration of life will not simply say his prayers. He will throw himself into the battle to preserve life, if for no other reason than that he is himself an extension of life around him.”
Each one of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference. Each one of us must take responsibility for our own lives, and above all, show respect and love for living things around us, especially each other. Together we must reestablish our connections with the natural world and with the Spiritual Power that is around us. And then we can move, triumphantly, joyously, into the final stage of human evolution—spiritual evolution.
And always I have this feeling—which may not be true at all—that I am being used as a messenger.
How can you stop yourself from yelling and shouting and accusing everyone of cruelty? The easy answer is that
and Dr. Goodall adds, "the agressive approach simply doesn't work. It is my task to try to change their attitudes in this matter; they will not listen if I raise my voice and point and accusing finger. Instead they will become angry & hostile. That will be the end of the dialogue.Real change will come only from within; laws and regulations are useful, but sadly easy to flout. So I keep the anger—which of course I feel—as hidden and controlled as possible. I try to reach gently into their hearts. 💚
