The Land and Spiritual Reasoning

artist rendering of book, quill and letter ... an original inkwell philosophical analysis

Land... the second greatest gift

(3rd edition - July 2007) by A.O. Kime
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While the preservation of the land has been a frequent topic, lacking has been discourse about our spiritual relationship. Invariably, our spiritual relationship to the land is spoken of in shallowness or treated as if something only an American Indian would believe. It seems man’s infinite connection, one of total dependency, has been a sidelined topic.

While it is commonly acknowledged life itself is the greatest gift but actually the gift of land is equally great. After all, without land, life as we know it wouldn’t exist. So, in this respect, life and land are the two greatest gifts.

We might commonly thank God for our food and good fortune but never, it seems, is he ever thanked for having given us the land. At least we never hear of it. And for those things we do give thanks... in appreciation we might only try living our lives as we believe proper thinking there's nothing else we can do in return. Well, there is... tending to the land.

Taking care of the land is one of the few physical ways we can express thanks and by not littering is the least we can do. Preserving or improving upon the land are noble acts and there are plenty of opportunities to restore what was previously desecrated. It doesn’t have to be one’s own land, although the most logical place to start, but public land as well. Yes, sometimes even our neighbor’s land… if they won’t do it.

This applies to manmade structures as well… it’s all about beautification. After all, beauty is an expression of perfection… and perfection is, well, godly. A dilapidated non-functioning structure, if an eyesore, should be repaired or eliminated out of respect for God and everyone else. At the very least, tidiness should rule. Littering not only demonstrates a disregard for others, since trash spoils everyone’s viewing experience, but trash, neglect and ruinous convoluting is highly disrespectful. It is evident... one can't believe in God and disrespect the land at the same time. Only atheists would despoil and live amongst trash.

This is not to imply one must start a project... much good can be done during the normal course of doing business and everyday living. Good habits and occasional efforts can do wonders.

Earth's resources

While environmentalists have long advocated the preservation of the earth’s resources for the sake of future generations, they never seem to mention our spiritual relationship. Volunteers who pick up litter along the highways probably don’t mention the association much either. All we hear is that they’re picking up the roadside trash to maintain the area’s natural beauty. While they're all good reasons, there seems something amiss about taking land for granted.

However, a healthy attitude about the land can develop without recognizing the spiritual aspect at first. It can be learned… especially after having visited a highly policed national park (against litter) at the Grand Canyon or Lake Tahoe for example. The Park Service’s motto 'leave behind only your footprints' makes a grand impression whereupon later one realizes there's more to it. Respectfulness of the land is a way to show appreciation. Of course, the park service considers it only a matter of not spoiling the scenery for the next guy and while an excellent reason, it's another miracle taken for granted.

Since subjacent interests always cohabitate with the first, in a sense it shouldn’t matter which reason is selected if, in the end, all interests are satisfied. However, since the main reasons usually lead to the Creator... the act of substituting reasons is like taking a detour to avoid the subject.

So, what's wrong with taking the earth for granted? Well, not much... being only a matter of sweeping the wonders of life and living under the rug.

While many public projects require the altering of the land, such as for roads and dams, they serve a public purpose and are rarely maliciously or inconsiderately destructive. In many cases, building improves the land. Of course, most die-hard environmentalist would disagree. While the preservation, conservation and restoration of the land are great causes, environmentalists are often unrealistic and become maliciously destructive themselves. Often the effects of their campaigns do more harm than good as wholesale job losses can testify. Environmentalists aren't standing on moral grounds while using injustices as weapons.

The environmentalist's war against ranching is another campaign backed by junk science these days. Since many of their gains are ill-gotten, the land becomes tainted and devoid of spirit. In the desert, since stock tanks are no longer filled with water... wildlife suffers. Ranchers built these stock tanks for their cattle... but at the same time improving hundreds of thousands of acres of desert landscape by providing a water source for all wildlife. This was undone by environmentalists.

While we should keep on guard against misuse, we should also recognize some projects improve the land. Lovely homes, farms and old barns dotting an otherwise featureless landscape are great examples. Man's ability to turn deserts into row after row of beautiful greenery with commanding order is a godly act. Soil is an amazing phenomenon from which life springs eternal. That growth can occur by simply adding water to unassuming seeds under a thin layer of soil is a miracle. A thin layer equates to an incredibly powerful incubator and like the spirit world itself... pervasive.

Political correctness

So, is political correctness the reason few mention God as the primary reason to properly tend to the land? It seems so. After all, we all sense the peer pressure not to mention God... and we certainly know better than to elaborate on the subject. It's become an awkward conversation piece and makes people uneasy... making one wonder whether it's all about guilty consciences.

For that matter, society seldom expresses itself truthfully or bluntly on anything anymore... bluntness and political correctness being as much diametrically opposed as spirituality and materialism. Political correctness requires only selected effects from a particular cause be mentioned. For example, it wouldn't be politically correct to say a hypocritical society is the root cause behind alcoholism and drug abuse. On an assembly line, these ills are bred... except journalists are effectively forbidden to say so because no newspaper would print it.

No, humans won’t even admit the reason they eat... eating is now a 'dining experience'. Nobody wants to admit to the real reasons for anything anymore. It has become a world of pretense, hypocrisy and spin... a society of make-believe where all understandings are based on the best-sounding causes and best-sounding effects. However, without make-believe civilization wouldn’t be civilized at all... it is a dance.

At any rate, the land is a tattletale as to who is godly and who isn't.

A.O. Kime

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Last modified: 06/22/10