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Rock Icons: Arches National
Park 6 Mile Marker
Do
not misunderstand me, but understand me fully [and] my
affection for the land. I never said the land was mine to do
with as I chose. The one who has the right to dispose of it is
the one who has created it. I claim a right to live on my
land, and accord you the privilege to live on yours. Chief
Joseph, circa 1877
We all share the earth. To find a global basis for our
commonality, the planet we live on and its cycle of life,
death, and renewal are universal experiences and challenges
shared by all. Our world is fragmented: Buddhists, Muslims,
Christians, Jews, and some whom we do not even know. How do we
find community among ourselves to live in peace? One basic
concept, common to us all, is the Earth.
“Rock Icons” represents my heart’s spirit and how it perceives
the land. The red cliffs soar into the sky with their faces
carved by nature peering down upon the passerby. The Icons are
so large; the humans so small—more in tune with our rightful
size in the cosmos. For it is not just the Earth that binds us
together, it is our place in the cosmos.
Today we know from science that hundreds of thousands of
galaxies give form, explode, and merge throughout the
incomprehensible light years of space. We are less than a
speck of sand. Our place is not at the center of the universe
like our forefathers thought, but really one of
insignificance. It is humbling and this is the real humility
that we all need to embrace.
As we search for community, we can see and sense the Earth.
Its inherent spirituality and our shared life with the planet
can bring us together. It is our first step toward a global
understanding of ourselves. As a small part of the ancient
practices and traditions that bind us, I make my contribution.
All cultures share the Earth and its cycle of life, death, and
renewal. “Rock Icons” brings the spiritual, inspiring images
of our Earth to our consciousness, reminding all of our
humanism and common ground: Ubuntu. |
