Erstwhile Urban Wanderer

November 24, 2008 – What a world it would be, could be …

By Dave Eriqat

Something different for me. Maybe it’s corny, but so what.

I spend a lot of time thinking and writing about current events, dabbling in philosophy, complaining about injustice and human failings. Over time, one grows weary and cynical. Then you run across something new (never mind that this video is over thirty years old, it’s new to me). It’s from the Born Free Foundation and it depicts a formerly pet lion, now living in the wild, reuniting with its former keepers. Never having heard this story before or seen this video, I found it so moving that I watched it five times. Someone once asked me if I prefer the law of the jungle. Well, if this is the law of the jungle then I’m all for it!

With so many awful things happening right now, and sadly, much worse to come, it’s easy to forget that we live on a paradise of a planet. Between the natural beauty that surrounds us and the potential opportunities available to us not only with other human beings, but with animals as well, we need to remember every once in a while to take advantage of what this garden of eden offers us.

Take a moment to forget about all the problems oppressing our psyches and cherish the good things. Go for a walk with the sun on your face and breathe some fresh air. Lie on the grass under a shady tree. Kiss or hug someone, just to show them you love them. Notice the wildlife around you: the colorful birds taunting one another or pulling worms out of the grass; the squirrels scampering up the trees; the neighbor’s dog rolling onto its back, as if to scratch an itch. Remember that we are one with the planet, its plants and animals; we should not be at odds with them. Nor should we be at odds with each other.

I don’t know how we get from here to there, but it’s worth making the effort.