Being Fully Human in the Rocky Mountains

Lee:

Sitting in a meadow this morning with my two small children in the Rocky Mountain National Park, I felt so connected to everything around me as if I was part of one large cosmic consciousness. Human beings have so much unrealized potential to do good things for the world. Maybe spending more time in nature would help all members of the human family find inner peace and harmony.

It seems to me that we are responsible for every living thing no matter what kingdom they reside in. The very thought of doing harm to anything weighed heavy on my heart. When we live in cities and towns and struggle to make our own way in the world it is so easy to forget the things that really matter like clean air and water, beautiful open spaces, mountains and valleys, wild animals, colorful trees and plants, birds and insects and the list goes on and on.

I am so grateful to all of the men and women who have helped save and maintain these magical wild places in our national parks. My father and mother took me to most of the national parks when I was a small child and now I am enjoying them again with my wife and children. I hope all of my children and their children continue to visit these breathtaking places that help us stay intimately connected to all living things and to never forget what it means to be fully human.