Hope and Inspiration on the Prairie

Posted by Sandy Beverly May 8, 2008 at 9:29 p.m.

http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... returned from a lovely weekend with KAWsters at Camp Hammond. My family and I are relative newcomers to KAW Council, but the spring weekend is becoming a family tradition. Our five-year-old has been three times (we skipped 2006 due to rain), and our 18-month-old has been twice. There's so much to appreciate about this event. I love that we are outdoors all day long. I love hearing and seeing birds that don't live in my central Lawrence neighborhood. I love sharing group meals and gathering for the three "kaws" before we eat. I love anticipating the hoots of owls and howls of coyotes. I love that my older son is beginning to build memories about this weekend. ("Let's go swing on the tire swing!" and "That's where we set up our tent last year.") I'm grateful for the adults who take an interest in my children.Spending time with the boys keeps me floating in and out of group conversations, but I catch snippets. I learn about plants by eavesdropping on Ken, Dan, and others. I pick up knowledge about building fires and making rope by watching Stephen. I feel a sense of awe and hope in the presence of wise, powerful ones like Dianna and Lavetta. I'm inspired by Caryn's commitment to community and the fact that these folks have been camping together in the spring for 27 years!http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... after I return home, these impressions and feelings bounce around within me, stirring up a sense of "what could be." What might this world be like if I and others spent more time barefoot on the prairie, noticing the prairie violets? What if I and others heard the coyotes and owls and whip-poor-wills every night? What if more of us had deep Earth-centered friendships that lasted more than a quarter of a century? What if I wasn't afraid to speak about my desire to do something big and important-or small and important-for the Earth?I live, it seems, with my feet in two different worlds. One foot wears a shoe and spends too much time in our too-big house. One foot walks barefoot--skin to sacred ground-and leads me to unpaved places. This dissonance weighs heavy on me, like a rock. Weekends with KAWsters and bluebirds and mayapples give me hope and inspiration, helping me set my bearing more in the direction of wholeness. Note: The Kansas Area Watershed (KAW) Council is the bioregional group encompassing Lawrence, Topeka, and other parts of Kansas. Newcomers are welcome at all events. Learn more about bioregionalism and KAW Council at www.kawcouncil.org and www.kawcouncil.blogspot.com.

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femail (Linda Hanney) says…

Sandy, it's good to read an essay about the outdoors which expresses an appreciation beyond observations. I agree that it takes hands on, or in your case foot on, interaction to claim a personal ownership of nature.
May 8, 2008 at 10:24 p.m.
justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

This was a heartfelt, soulful piece of writing, Sandy. I appreciate that you not only gave me insightful knowledge about an event I knew nothing about, but especially your beautiful description of things that you hold dear to you.Thank you - a lovely piece of writing.
May 9, 2008 at 7 a.m.
pdecell (Paul Decelles) says…

Thanks for reminding me about the KAW council and for the links. I had forgotten about the beginnings of this group as well.
May 9, 2008 at 8:52 a.m.