[blockquote source=”Friedrich Nietzsche”]Remain faithful to the earth, my brothers, with the power of your virtue. Let your gift-giving love and your knowledge serve the meaning of the earth. Thus I beg and beseech you. Do not let them fly away from earthly things and beat with their wings against eternal walls. Alas, there has always been so much virtue that has flown away. Lead back to the earth the virtue that flew away, as I do—back to the body, back to life, that it may give the earth a meaning, a human meaning.[/blockquote]

When I was just a little girl, I was always asking questions and poking my nose into things.

For hours, I would play in the acres of woods behind my house – carefully tracing the lines of our creek, flipping stones and making mental notes of all my discoveries.

I was such a curious child, you see  – with eyes widened to the mysteries of this earth, and insatiable in my ‘wondering whys’.  And, I couldn’t help it, really – as, my interest in knowing was almost as great as my need for breathing.

Oh, and didn’t I test my parent’s every last nerve – forcing my way through when unsatisfied by a cursory response, only to be met with a final blasting of “Just because!”

Nothing could deter me in my need to know why – I was like a young hound tacked to scent of my very first trail. Often, the answers to my questions came by way of the most beautiful stories – stories, that I share still to this day.

One story that I remember quite fondly, was the story of how man came to be.

It was said that before man could ever inhabit this, that the Great Creator first asked the animals their permission.

“This is your Earth,” he said, “my gift to you. Everything which surrounds you, is a testimony of my love for you. These trees, are your shelter…and this stream, your sustenance. And now, I very much need your help, my dears – looking after this creation I call ‘human’.”

The animals happily agreed. And man…was finally given his place on this earth, not ever knowing the conditions for his being.

You see, man is only afforded his station here by way of the animal’s generosity…and, the graciousness of their most beautiful spirits.

I’ve never once forgotten that story, nor my place here upon this great earth…

And, am continuously humbled in this knowing that we humans…are always being cared for.

Put’s a bit of a different spin on things, now doesn’t it? Perhaps, serving as a much-needed reminder…

Much love, my dears…may we always be mindful to the gift our animal friends have so graciously shared.