April's buds, showers and emerging greenery freshen the tired and sleeping landscape and make us feel renewed in Easter joy. It is more than a time of colored eggs and hopping bunnies. April is the month of daffodils, lilacs, blooming wisteria, wild geraniums, of the returning whippoorwill and a hundred and twenty other bird species, of geese going north, and young folks just going somewhere. It is the time of turning the compost pile and spreading the more aged contents on the garden plots. It is the season for sowing spinach, beets, carrots, lettuce, radishes, endive, and of planting tomatoes, broccoli, chinese cabbage and other seedlings that have been growing in the greenhouse. For those of us who are early gardeners and don't hesitate to protect the freshly planted with temporary covers, April is the month when the garden essentially comes alive with beds of vegetables. For those of us living in moderately temperate climates the last half of April is generally frost-free and time for planting of hills of corn, beans and squash -- the Native American "three sisters."

April 2004 Reflections

April 1, 2004 Smoking: An April Fool's Joke

This essay is a last minute change. I had prepared an essay on
how to handle junk mail, namely, collecting a month's worth,
packaging it in a box, and sending it with the return postage paid
envelop of the junk sender you least like. Dollars of cost await
that junk sender and, if enough people do it, the practice would
become unprofitable. A good April Fool's joke, right? However, on
second thought, post-9-11 postal workers are so hassled that such
gimmicks make their lives more difficult. They will suspect these
packages and have to open them at cost in time and nerves. So, why not
attack another widespread practice, namely smoking?

Those hooked. Smokers are those who through peer and
advertising pressure could be termed the true butt of an April
Fool's joke of global proportions. Unfortunately, this habit could
cost them precious years of quality life through emphysema, lung
cancer, and increased risk of heart attack. The joke of tobacco
and other forms of smoking is a cruel one which goes deep in our
society and includes about three out of ten people. Unfortunately,
anti-smoking campaigns are often half-hearted and so percentages of
military smokers have again passed the one-third mark and even
college students (both men and women) are smoking more at many
campuses. Why? The reasons certainly are not rational ones.

The practice. Looking back on the history of tobacco use
reveals a lack of addiction when a peace pipe was occasionally
passed around among elders in a Native American tent. Little
contamination of the airy environment, little cost since tobacco
leafs come with a beautiful flowering plant growing in much of what
is the eastern United States. I look back on growing tobacco on
our Kentucky farm with surprisingly fond memories. I grew up in a
family where tobacco use was not frowned upon, only don't smoke
near a barn for fear of accidental fire. Pipe smoking caught on
with Sir Walter Raleigh but was far more universal by the Civil
War. Tobacco was a commodity of illicit exchange for coffee by
Confederates with Union soldiers. Cigarettes were born and got the
boost in the First World War and even more so in the Second World
War a decade later; free cigarettes were distributed by
manufacturers by the billions and, by the end of the conflict,
millions of hooked veterans continued the practice.

Practical actions. We tobacco state citizens should strive to
raise cigarette taxes to levels equalled by other states. The
Bluegrass State alone could realize $300,000,000 additional revenue
each year. Another program is to initiate family discussions with
smokers. The rights to clean air in a home is something entitled
to by all, even non-smoking residents, who may be suffering with
current breathing problems. Helping smokers, name, claim and tame
addictions is both good homemaking and proper collective care of
our loved ones. A third method is more in keeping with April
Fool's day; procure cigarettes and flush one down every time the
smoker lights up. "Why waste the cigarette?" is the first comment.
"No, it isn't wasted, if it helps get you to stop."

April 2, 2004 Arbor Day: Plant Trees

Arbor Days. These are celebrated on different days depending
on optimal tree planting in the various states (Kentucky's is
today). Trees can be planted during different windows of time, but
try to avoid hot, dry or extremely cold weather. Roots develop
when the soil warms to about 45 degree Fahrenheit. Trees need to
be nurtured along and even watered during severe dry conditions.

Tree Benefits. The trees have immense benefits in so many ways
it is wise to consider them all together and then in later months
to come back and concentrate on specific benefits. Trees are:
* Bearers of fruit and nuts, especially native or highly
naturalized American varieties, e.g., Papaw, persimmon, wild plum,
crabapple, mulberries, hickory nut, black walnut and hazelnut.
* Barriers against the wind in wind breaks, sound barriers
against road and other outside noises, privacy barriers to enclose
a place for the residents to enjoy themselves more at home.
* Shade against the summer sun, to mitigate the temperature.
* Moisture retainers acting as sponges to slow the runoff and
preserve the soil and allow the falling rain to penetrate into the
water table.
* Providers of wood products, thatch, and leaves for mulch.
* Natural sinks for soaking up the carbon dioxide which is now
being excessively produced by human activity.
* Beautiful components of landscapes for all to see and enjoy,
especially in the summer months and autumns.

Planting fruit and nut trees is part of the program to get more
people to raise homegrown produce. The act of planting these trees
can become a meaningful ceremony involving interested parties. We
realize that we are mortal beings and the tree will most likely
outlive us. The act gives us a sense of our belonging to a wider
community of creatures. We marvel that a large majestic tree can
spring from such a small sampling or seed. Planting fruit and nut
trees can be a part of an effort to make more liveable institutions
such as hospitals and academic centers, where employees and
residents are able to eat from the produce of the land itself.
These "backyard orchards" can spring up at colleges, parks,
military bases and road right-of-ways (using dwarf varieties that
are resistant to highway pollutants and minimum limb breakage). So
visitors may take the fruit in order to taste the land's produce.

Hints on Planting. Fruit trees like fertile, well-drained
soils, plenty of sunshine, and freedom from obstacles that create
frost pockets. Avoid waterlogged areas. For actual planting, dig
a hole deeper and wider than the root system, trim any broken or
injured roots, and set trees at approximately the same height as
they were previously growing in the nursery. For dwarf or semi-
dwarf varieties, the graft must be at least two or three inches
above the soil line. Place good rock-free soil in the hole, firmly
packing it around the roots to ground level. Soak the soil with
water. Wrap the sapling to keep rodents from girdling the fruit
trees and to prevent sun scald.

April 3, 2004 Lengthening Day: Start Thinking Solar

Daylight Savings. In most parts of America tomorrow will be
the day to "spring ahead" to Daylight Savings Time, losing an hour,
or better -- having to endure a 23-hour Sunday. Clock turning is
coupled with that opposite event seven months from now of returning
to Standard Time. The rationale is of World War II vintage, for it
afforded factory and office workers longer daylight evenings to
plant Victory Gardens. For the most part, people like longer
evenings rather than mornings of sunlight. In spring, we turn
attention to the lengthening day, and the gift of the sun with its
energizing rays. We know the sun is burning up and that the energy
will last a limited time -- just tens of millions of years. But
this divine gift of sun is just right. That sun is not so close as
to burn us up, or so far as to allow us to freeze.

Solar Energy. The energy streaming from the sun does more
than give us daylight and warm our globe. Solar energy is ready
and waiting for future application. It is a renewable energy
source which is essentially environmentally benign (no pollutants
in fuel extraction or energy generation). It can work wonderfully
in a decentralized manner as opposed to large powerplants (though
there can be centralized solar-powered establishments). Solar
power can render individual homes, institutions or communities
self-reliant in energy needs. Solar power does not have to depend
on large amounts of capital or the functioning of large utilities.
Lastly, solar power is readily available in varying degrees
throughout the planet. However, even in places with less solar
radiation than Florida or Arizona, such as the Netherlands, many
buildings are now being solarized.

Solar Age Delayed. With so many obvious benefits, solar has
taken a back seat due to grossly unequal governmental subsidies
given to non-renewable energy sources -- oil, gas, coal and nuclear
power. A host of tax breaks, incentives, research dollars and
other pay-outs have kept these non-renewables in the forefront,
even though they are highly polluting, and the extraction,
transport and processing of the fuels has caused environmental
problems from surface mines to oil spills. If we level the playing
field with non-renewable energy sources, solar and wind energy can
become major alternatives in the 21st century. Solar energy has
been applied to generating electricity, heating water, warming
greenhouses, and running automobiles. Other applications include
pumping and purifying water and cooking and drying food.

Solar Future. Can the solar dream be realized in the next few
decades? Many experts in solar fields are convinced it can, and
recent advances in California seem to be proving it. Expanding tax
credits and subsidies to renewable energy will make this happen.
Solar energy is safe, dependable, and ready for use by domestic
users who can become producers. Solar and wind energy could supply
much of our energy needs in the coming generations. This would
save petroleum for use as raw materials for making medicines and
other necessary chemicals. Let's think solar.

April 4, 2004 A Journey to Faith

Holy Week. We start our solemn Holy Week observance with a
procession of palms, a symbolic reenactment of the triumphant entry
into Jerusalem. We are aware that the mood during this symbolic
journey will change from hosanna to one of rejection. In some way,
this Week is a condensed version of our Journey of faith, beginning
in the exuberance of spring and ending with Death and the promise
of resurrection. In the course of the week our moods will change
profoundly -- the desired religious experience of these days.

The final journey. Believers see the season of Lent and
Easter as a continuous journey of faith. During the third, fourth
and fifth Sundays of Lent, St. John's Gospel (Chapters 4, 9, and
11) gives us three examples of this journey: the Samaritan woman
coming to the well to draw water, the blind man wanting to see, and
the raising of Lazarus and his sister Martha's journey of faith.
Three sincere people on the road, all are drawn by Christ, and all
proclaim him divine. Jesus does things his own way -- a
conversation with the woman, a double interaction with the man born
blind, and this story about raising Lazarus from the dead.

Community Exercise. Our individual faith journeys involve
communities (e.g., the local community of Samaritans, the non-
believing religious community in Jerusalem along with fearful
parents of the blind man, and the bystanders and mourners of
Lazarus' family). Baptisms until recently were conducted in the
recesses of the Church, but now are conducted before the whole
assembly to express the communal character of our Faith. It was
dramatic how Archbishop Romero (the martyred Archbishop of San
Salvador) reintroduced this more communal celebration in his
territory, even though some of the wealthy did not want to be
required to stand in line at a church with the peons.

The Content. For the Christian, the heart of each story is
that we must each come to Christ in our own way. This is a unique
travel experience because our situations are different. Jesus is
living water, the light of the world, and the resurrection. Each
journey is a step-by-step process, for we don't arrive in an
instant, except in rare circumstances. In today's Gospel passage,
Jesus is the one traveling into his city of Jerusalem, a solemn
entrance of a poor king. What occurs in his mind? How is he
preparing for the last terrible week of life? The trepidation of
things to come is in part of our own Journey of Faith as well.

Revitalizing Ourselves in Faith and Love. Our journey of faith
involves the special love Christ shows us, and our reciprocal love
shown to him in service to our neighbor. We need the humble Jesus
riding a donkey to lead the way. But we must have a deeper since
of loyalty that of the crowds who waved palm branches and laid down
their cloaks. Would not these cry "crucify him" before the week
ended? As spring now enters into our northern hemisphere, we find
new life. Now we enter into the fullness of the Pascal mystery,
namely, the Lord's suffering, death and resurrection.

April 5, 2004 Address Television Addiction

Like most, I do not dispute that television is a mixed
blessing. I have narrated a weekly tv show for about six years but
I do not have a cable or tv hookup, and really don't miss it too
much. When Ralph Nader called to say he and his mother were to be
on television, his office found it incredible that I did not have
access to the tube. It was not too many years ago that the
majority of Americans were in a television-free age. And people
survived.

Benefits. In one way, television is an appropriate technology
for it is an excellent way to link us to cultural, informational
and international events. The audience can watch and hear and yet
does not have to expend fuel and time to travel. It is a vista to
the outside world for shut-ins, a lift for those who prefer to be
virtual travelers and avoid the hassle of airport searches, a means
of viewing other's lives without leaving the security of home. Few
will contest that educational tv has many merits. Television
screens are used to detect shoplifters, to peer into the heart at
a surgery, find out the workings of internal organs, protect bank
tellers, and help catch America's "most wanted."

Debits. Nothing is perfect, and television certainly has its
faults. It is part of the dumbing-down of America through an
average of six hours of home operation per day. It is the present
day "bread- and-circuses" for the multitudes, the addiction of an
overweight and expanding couch potato "culture," and a destroyer of
home life through an absence of interpersonal communication. The
entertainment is relatively low-cost, keeps you glued for a period
of time, and focuses away from potentially interesting people
within the home or community. Instead, all must turn outward to
some professional sports or entertaining types who draw attention
away from those present. The content is at best mediocre. When I
am exhausted after a long travel I may stop at a lodging with a tv
and do some surfing and I am always astounded at how little is
available even with fifty or more channels.

Breaking Addictions. I would never be able to read a book a
week, if I had easy access to tv. I would be too exhausted and the
temptation to gaze at the tube is simply too great. That makes me
wonder about those who naturally gravitate to the boob tube and who
lack moderation or the discipline of scheduled viewing times. It
is like problem drinkers in a room full of liquor and no one to
stop them. The solution is to get out and away. Often the tv-
addicted are surrounded in home, lounge, waiting room, store, bar,
and even the public transportation facilities. We can say tv must
be taken in moderation, but that hardly works for some people.
Just as there are now smoke-free buildings and zones, so with tv.
We must admit that there is an addiction problem which can harm
people, hurt their health, retard their social life, harm their
intellectual curiosity, and deaden their spiritual growth.
Challenge tv-addicts to take steps to create tv-free zones in the
home and times in their day. What about a television anonymous?

April 6, 2004 Walkways

Walkways allow people to view their flowers, herbs and
vegetables first hand throughout the growing season or beyond.
Sometimes the walkways lead to seats which allow for viewing or
reflection in the midst of the great outdoors.

Many people have requested information on how to make
walkways for their particular place. Much depends on the condition
of those using these nature pathways. If users possess a more
vigorous physical condition, it could be better to have paths which
are more natural and with less even surfaces and may vary in
natural appearance, year round use, cost and resource intensity:

Dirt or mowed lawn -- natural but harder to upkeep during
the rainy weather or growing season.

Sawdust trail -- a clean look and can recycle in time
into the surroundings, but can invite moles or
termites.

Chips -- last longer and can be serviceable but
makes it difficult to maneuver a wheelchair.

Stone -- (such as flagstones) laid in somewhat random fashion
with grass in between can be aesthetically
pleasing, but can be slippery in wet weather.

Gravel -- a more manufactured look, but good for all-weather
traversing for those who can walk.

Split logs --a difficult undertaking to build for some people
without the proper skills or equipment but excellent for
seasonal damp places.

Pressure-treated wood walkways -- good for all-weather
walkways in soggy and wetland areas.

Brick or tile -- very pleasing surfaces made by pressing
them in sand and leveling them smooth.

Concrete -- a durable but resource-intensive and costly
surface throughout the year, especially good for
those with wheelchairs. Make only as wide as
necessary for the chair, and consider retaining
part of the total path as unhardened surface for
the more physically mobile.

Blacktop -- same as above, but could allow for snow or ice
melt more quickly due to dark surface.

Plastic materials -- new materials on the market can be mixed
with earth to make a natural looking hardened path.
While quite expensive, they allow all-weather use.

April 7, 2004 Public Service Announcements

If you are seeking to reach a broader audience, consider some
novel approaches. Perhaps the initial news-worthiness has been
tarnished by prior reporting, and you may be near despair about
breaking into the crowded media. Take heart! There's an excellent
way to serve the public interest and get the message to others.
That is through mandated Public Service Announcements or PSAs.
The airwaves belong to the commons and that means all of us.
Stations use them but must nod occasionally to the needs of the
community, and you can take this mandate as a media opportunity.

Be realistic about your own resources. Try to mobilize
volunteer editing, announcing and reproduction of your PSA.
Remember, it takes many more resources (editing, filming, etc.) to
complete a videotape than an audiotape. Buck for buck, the radio
PSA can be a very good route for a cash-strapped public interest
group with a message needing to be communicated.

Determine the Content. What do you want to say? Is it a clear
message? Are there several parts which deserve sequential PSAs?
Can you get the message across without confusion? If it has
political content, make sure you keep it educational rather than
espousing a single position. Of course, PSAs are developed by
advocates. The point is to make sure all sides are heard.

Write your own first draft, even if you are fortunate enough to
have the volunteer services of media experts. You need to make
sure the information is accurate and is not easily misunderstood.
Be punchy and upbeat. In this first draft make every word count.

Ask for action. Be specific and tell where to go for further
information. Give a web site location, or name local contacts in
the listening or viewing area.

Make the message short and adjust it to local or standard
format: A good rule of thumb for words and sizes of messages: 10
second spot = 20 words, 20 seconds = 50 words, 30 seconds = 75
words, 40 seconds = 110 words, 60 seconds = 150 words. Keep
numbers to a minimum because the listener will easily be confused.

Consider individual sites. Check the requirements of your
local station before preparing audiotapes: tape or script sizes,
hone the message to the announcer, and determine the number of
copies and the amount of lead time for dated announcements. This
applies especially when you desire to reach an audience of a
particular station or network. Some announcements fit better for
certain media outlets.

The Packet of Materials. Send an introductory letter, even if
you have made prior contact with the station. Enclose both the
text of the audio/videotape and the tape itself, along with a
brochure describing your organization. It is best to enlist a
professional radio announcer or a good volunteer reader.

April 8, 2004 Called to be Caregivers

Holy Week & Passover. Holy week is the time we commemorate
the passing over of the first born and the delivery of the people
from Egypt to the Holy Land and we remember the passing of Jesus
from this life to the next. It is a solemn time and story,
constantly retold after the full moon, the first after the Vernal
Equinox, thus the "Passover Moon." We return to our roots and
respect the traditions of our ancestors. The Gospel of John
retells this beautiful story of the last supper.

Remember. The Eucharist is the memorial, a remembering of that
event each time performed. Let's remember, be faithful, forgive
others, be united in faith and live as brothers and sisters. Let's
not separate ourselves from our community. The meal is
togetherness in the unleavened bread, the fellowship, and the hymns
and prayers together. We make ready the coming of the Lord in a
special way this coming holiday season. We wait with him, enter
into his suffering, accept the burdens of others out of the love
shown by Christ for us. Read St. John's Gospel, Chapters 15 to 17.

Washing Feet -- Service to others. People hurt and need
unsought for help. They await the coming of the kingdom of peace
and justice. We hasten that coming by being like Jesus washing the
feet of his disciples. We are to serve others with simple tasks,
encourage them to go to worship, allay their fears, and being
willing to be unsung heroes and heroines of people in need. Caring
for those in need will include caring for us too now or later.
Let's encourage others to care. This poem by Esther Mary Walker
pays tribute to the caregiver:

BEATITUDES FOR FRIENDS OF THE AGED

Blessed are they who understand
My faltering step and palsied hand,
Blessed are they who know that my ears today
Must strain to catch the things they say.
Blessed are they who seem to know
That my eyes are dim and my wits are slow.
Blessed are they who looked away
When coffee spilled at table today.
Blessed are they with a cheery smile
Who stop to chat for a little while.

Blessed are they who never say,
"You've told that story twice today."
Blessed are they who know the ways
to bring back memories of yesterdays.
Blessed are they who make it known
That I'm loved, respected and not alone.
Blessed are they who know I'm at a loss
To find the strength to carry the Cross.
Blessed are they who ease the days
On my journey Home in loving ways.

April 9, 2004 Death of the Forest

Good Friday and forests. It hurts to see pictures of trees
dying in a forest, and we know that dying forests exist in more
parts of the world than we want to imagine. All of us know of the
importance of forest, and it hurts to hear reports that many of the
forests of central Europe, such as the Black Forest of Germany, are
in trouble. Truly, forests are the lungs of the Earth and take in
the carbon dioxide and give off oxygen which we all need for life.
They mitigate against floods, extreme temperatures, drought and
erosion; they produce fruit, nuts and many understory forms of
vegetation. Without them, we could not live.

Healthy forests and wildlife. We are pleased about the
increase in deer, wild turkeys and the spread of the coyote -- but
these are adaptable species. In the same forest, the excessive
turkeys can scratch up and damage the fragile understory to a
degree that it will not recover. The lack of predators can lead to
superabundance of one or another species and disturb the delicate
balance of the forest. Some wildlife, such as amphibians or
certain birds, can be harmed when the forest ecosystem becomes
unbalanced. Their health as wildlife depends of healthy forests.

Healthy forest and plants. A number of plant species are in
trouble, and we observe die-back of dramatic proportions much as
our ancestors saw in the death of the American chestnut in the
early 20th century. We also are aware of trees in trouble for
different reasons, such as several species of oak, the Frazer fir
in the higher elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains, and the
American elm in urban as well as rural regions. The dogwoods
within the forests are dying back; certain pines in our southeast
suffer immensely from the Southern pine beetle. Some of this dying
is due to non-native diseases coming into the country; others are
opportunistic conditions: when a forest suffers from pollution
damage, this or that bug or smaller organism will be able to do
more damage to the weakened tree.

Complex issues. Dr. Thomas Rooney of the University of
Wisconsin Department of Biology says that biologists are worried
about less adaptable understory forest species. Middlesex Fells,
a protected park in Boston, has lost 37% of its understory species
since 1894. Brunet Island State Park in Wisconsin has lost 36% of
its species since 1950. Heart's Content, a protected virgin forest
in northwestern Pennsylvania has lost between 60 and 80% of its
species since 1929. Rooney has looked at 59 sites in northern
Wisconsin, and over 50 years 71% of all understory species declined
in their average local abundance which qualifies as sustainable
forest management.

Causes. Threats to our precious forests are many:
unsustainable logging, unrestricted off-road vehicle use, exotic
pest species invasion, air and water pollution and some forest-fire
suppression practices. These and other threats should make us more
vigilant. And this too is worth thinking about on Good Friday.

April 10, 2004 Sorrow Turned to Joy

A funeral for some of us can be a renewed experience of Holy
Saturday, a day which begins in the gloom of the crucified Christ
lying in a tomb. We are surrounded by a sadness of what has
happened. Before this day ends however, we begin to see the light
ourselves, the light that the good person who has just passed away
now is drawing near to in the ultimate journey of faith being
transformed into the Love of God. Thus, for us, Holy Saturdays
come quite often and yet we do not recognize that we are called to
transform sadness to joy in our respective faith journeys.

Genuine sadness. We do not minimize the sadness of the passing
of a loved one or in even a more spiritual experience, the annual
Good Friday experience. We give Jesus to the tomb for ever so
brief a time. We are truly filled with sadness, especially if we
are very close the person, who has to let go of earthly life and
now we are called to let go of him or her. Yes, we are sad, but it
need not be a lasting experience or one which is not also colored
by an underlying sense of hope for the better day -- for Easter
resurrection which is soon coming. Sadness, while real, will be
transformed through God's help and our faith.

Genuine joy. On Holy Saturday we have two basic natural
elements to assist us: fire and water. We come to the light of
the new fire at the beginning of the Easter vigil so that we know
the happiness of the first human being who discovered fire, and the
attraction is the nearest thing to a learned instinct. We are
moved to fire and we are moved to water because we ultimately
emerged from water. The holy water sprinkled or dipped is the
reminder of our baptism and we are now redrawn to reach for the
water. In baptism we were saved and so we are attracted in a
spiritual manner to that washing event -- the other important event
for it ushered in new life.

Transforming event. At a funeral we are asked to experience
both sadness and joy through holy water and incense. We know in
the certainty of faith that the sadness of the passing on of a
friend or relative is an event of new life, of a new gathering of
people. Some of us can transform sadness to joy better than others
at funerals or on Holy Saturday. For some it takes more time.

Encourage others. What we strive to do for ourselves, we also
try to extend to others who have difficulty in possessing both joy
and sadness as emotions within themselves simultaneously or in
rapid sequence. Some find this balancing act difficult. We need
to remember that the witnesses to the first Resurrection had it
difficult as well and underwent a period of genuine confusion and
fright. With time we will be able to appreciate both emotions and
their place at different events. We begin in sadness and with time
advance to a state of joy even though we recall the sad events and
do not try to forget them in any way. It is precisely knowing the
genuine nature of the sadness that we experience all the more the
radiant nature of true Easter joy.

April 11, 2004 Easter Faith

Christ is Risen; he is risen indeed. This is the day the Lord
has truly made.

Easter Characteristics: Excitement and joy -- The risen Jesus
overcomes the defeat of Calvary. We join the witnesses to God's
ultimate humor in turning a terrible defeat into a glorious
victory. This excitement is still communicated decades later.

Easter hope and victory -- We have a victory of life over
death in this the final age of the world -- the last cosmic second
of time. Death is conquered -- and that applies to despair,
scandals, wars especially in the Holy Land itself, and in our
personal illnesses and infirmities. Today we affirm that Jesus is
the way to victory. Spring is new life, and Easter is the supreme
moment of spring.

Easter Peace and Forgiveness -- This is the day the Lord
instituted the sacrament of reconciliation, which means peace with
ourselves, with others around us, and with our God. We
deliberately make that peace expressive in the full joy and hope of
this feast day.

Easter Mystery. It was so good seeing Sister Imogene -- my
first teacher of sixty one years ago. She taught me catechism and
still lives as a spry 101 and wondering why the Lord has left her
around so long. In 1941, she asked an example of a "mystery" in
the second grade class, and I told about my mother's chicken
incubator in which all the eggs (though laid at different times)
hatched on the same day. That mystery of life is still a mystery
to me. Note: the key was the little kerosene lamp which was lit at
a certain time. But when as seven year old I wondered why, it
became part of my search for God, to ask why, why, why Lord new
life? God's ever present love is shown clearly through the gift of
new life, a story retold each succeeding Easter. We welcome
hatching our collective lives in the deep mystery of God's love.

Easter Water as Symbol of new life. Holy Saturday baptismal
waters were poured over thousands throughout the world. We rejoice
because that which is life-giving through the Grace of God is now
giving us new life as a community of believers. Now we bless the
Easter Water and make it holy so that it may be sprinkled on the
field and give new life to all. We are from water and wedded to
being near water. Though we fear water we know it gives life.
Take Easter water out to the fields, the lawns, the trees, the
flower beds and the gardens and sprinkle all generously asking God
to make them productive. Easter reminds us that God's gives life.

Easter means Helping Others. Each year we observe "Easter Egg
Hunts." Pleasure is not in just finding colored eggs but helping
others find them. Older kids are asked to help the younger ones
find one or two eggs and then find theirs -- the opposite of
American competitiveness. God loved us first. Besides, eggs are
limited in a limited world and Easter means sharing new life.

April 12, 2004 Eco-Citizen Monitors: The Modern Paul Reveres

History. Before the Battle of Concord and the start of the
Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775) a group of select people were
organized and willing to be on the lookout for an impending attack
by the British. The wholeness of the emerging interdependent
colonies to be someday called the "United States" was being
threatened -- and patriots were organized to anticipate the attack
and warn the local citizen about this threat. So much for history.
But we too must be willing to meet threats to the wholeness of our
Earth community and this takes vigilance and commitment.

What is a Citizen Monitor? This is a person who has other
occupations or is retired and who has a special concern about a
given issue. He or she wants to make sure society or the
environment is not harmed by the greed of a few or the mistakes of
others. The task covers areas which do not have official guardians
or, if it is covered, some are not living up to their duty.

Examples of Citizen Monitors. Citizen monitors can include:
military and general welfare (e.g., reporting drug abuse or illicit
drug trade; social welfare (e.g., misuse of food stamps); political
activities (polling place watchers), and public health (e.g.,
reporting cases of such threats as "Foot-and-Mouth disease"). In
all these examples we see risks being taken and time to report and
substantiate what is being said. It is not easy, and many will run
from the task at hand.

Alerted citizens. Responsibility for monitoring falls upon all
the citizenry and yet it becomes a matter of individual
responsibility when inspired people take on the task of being
alert, of looking into the matter, of being prepared for the worst,
and of taking public or private steps to either stop the practice
or call the higher authority's attention to the misdeed or
malpractice. We often discuss what should be done with people who
see but turn the other way and do not report matters. Here the
monitor is expected to pay close watch and to report misdoings at
a moment's notice, so as to avoid still further trouble.

Eco-Citizen Monitoring. In the 1980s a group called the West
Virginia Mountain Stream Monitors did a rather heroic job of
keeping the rivers and streams clean for fishing and general
enjoyment by giving citizens field experience in simple water
chemistry and aquatic life monitoring testing. Using basic tools
the alerted folks went into the streams and traced the
contamination of watershed to the source at some mine or oil well.
Results were reported to the proper enforcement authorities. In
much the same way, other states have trained water monitors and in
recent years this has been a popular activity for youth in high and
middle schools. But the list include other ecological areas as
well with forest watch programs as well as soil conservation people
who look for erosion-inducing practices. Monitoring can be part of
litter control and waste management. We need do more than cleanup
programs; we need modern Paul Revere's to stop people in the act.

April 13, 2004 Resurrection-Centered Spirituality

Ever since God created the world, God's everlasting power and
deity -- however invisible--have been there for the mind to see in
the things God has made. (Romans 1:20)

A Natural Theology. Christians who care for the Earth seek a
spirituality which engenders respect and professes service for all,
even plants and animals. This answers a criticism that Christian
tradition is antagonistic to environmental concerns. Actually,
Christian tradition proclaims a natural revelation discovered
through observing the divine hand in creation as seen by all with
the eyes of faith and realized all the more through scientific
research. Natural theology is an integral part of an authentic
eco-spirituality which has the following basic characteristics: a)
respect for all creation, b) openness to others' efforts and
especially sufferings, and c) sharing a cooperative enterprise by
all of good faith.

Creation and Redemption-centered Spiritualities. Some people's
spirituality is focused on all of creation -- the majesty and
complex forms, the diversity of all beings, and the part that we
play in the web of life. These are the creation-centered folks, who
are praised for their reverence for all of creation. There is a
sort of ecumenism including non-believers to still be part of this
expanded community of the spiritually concerned. Much of this
concern about creation and its beauty is excellent. Some
believers, on the other hand, emphasize human sin, the need for
repentance, the saving power of Christ, and the importance of the
redemptive act of Calvary, namely a redemption-centered approach.
The emphasis is on individual salvation and the spiritual traveler
looks to God's merciful love of all and the need for forgiveness.
Both Creation and Redemption spiritualities have good aspects. The
first focuses on the interrelationships of all creatures but does
not deal with redemptive suffering; the second places emphasis on
the individual person and less on other creatures. The first tends
to be too rational and elitist; the second, too emotional and
individualistic. However, both spiritualities can be preserved
without diminishment through a Resurrection-centered spirituality.

A New Creation. A third approach emphasizes the need for
healing the wounded Earth and its suffering inhabitants. We are
invited to enter into both creative and redemptive acts as members
of God's family. In going down to death with Christ, we find new
life and thus rise with the Lord, making new all that has been hurt
into a greater creation. We see the Resurrection as a point of
victory, liberation, a contemplation of life in its fullness.
Through this new commitment to spiritual growth we become at one
with creation, an integral part of redemption and truly an Easter
people willing to work together in a common enterprise. We aren't
Lone Rangers. A stronger eco-spirituality needs teamwork, in the
manner that hunter/gatherers work together through harsh winters.
Without the work of all concerned citizens our planet cannot
survive. With a cooperative enterprise we can renew the Earth.

April 14, 2004 Lingering Cool Weather

Observations. We hardly ever have a perfect spring, when the
weather turns pleasant and remains so from the last week of March
to that of the end of spring in June. In fact, rural Americans
talk about different "winters," which come when various blossoms
are normally out and the weather turns unseasonably cool or cold.
The Appalachian "Serviceberry Winter" is one of the earlier ones
since that tree blooms so very early. There is both "Redbud
Winter" and "Dogwood Winter" which can sometimes overlap because
both trees are blooming at the same time. When two "winters" are
occurring simultaneously, then the natives say the weather can be
severe. "Blackberry Winter" in mid-May in our part of America is
one of the last of the winters but comes even later in areas where
the blooming moves on towards June. Some of these same designated
"winters" come at different times, dependent on the circumstances
of elevation, proximity to water bodies, and geographic location.
What each of these "winters" tells us is that there is some
unseasonable coolness in store. And maybe that is a normal
expectation.

Winters in Spring. The deepest harm from late spring frosts
and those springtime cold spells is not to the plants outside --
even though they can be affected -- but to the psyche of the person
who has suffered from cabin fever. The "winters" of springtime can
be devastating for those who do not appreciate the quirks of the
season, and the quirks of our lives. They are like impatient
children who want all to go well right now. A healthier outlook is
to expect that spring includes the unexpected.

Winters in Summer. There have times (about one every other
century) when summer never came, and the grass grew but the other
grain crops did not mature properly and disaster faced the world
for want of warm weather. One such period was in the 1630s and
others of a milder degree in the early 1800s. It is possible that
with all the heating effects of global warming, this condition of
an occasional winter in summer may not occur anytime soon -- but
don't count on it even with all this global warming.

Be Prepared. Be ready for the worst: don't put away the
winter clothes too soon; keep the space heating units ready for
the unexpected; have plenty of covering materials to go out in the
garden (cloth coverings such as Remay or even newspapers) and
protect the more delicate plants; hold off from planting tomatoes
and other frost-sensitive plants until quite sure, and then have
some protective coverings just in case; be alert to drops in
temperature and return pots of flowers to the greenhouse on cold
nights; preserve a strong sense of hope that spring is going to
remain very soon; and keep cheerful even when you put back on the
winter clothes for a few days. Think of it another way; maybe we
can have longer Indian summers this autumn as well.

April 15, 2004 Teach Youth Resource Monitoring

Enough, if something from our hands has power
To live, and act, and serve the future hour. William Wordsworth

Knowing the environmental situation is necessary before coming
to solutions. Young people are good learners and could take the
first step to improvement of academic and residential properties.
The establishment of sample "profiles" of the actual situation can
be a credited student undertaking with faculty supervision.

Food Waste Profile. Actually weigh the food waste in a
cafeteria before considering composting options. Often the volume
of food waste is so great that composting is quite difficult. Food
wastes the waste may be curbed by the manner the food is dished out
or through an educational program to allow leftovers to go to the
poor. From such waste profiles, youth get an understanding of the
need for conservation of resources.

Energy Profile. Young people in schools can monitor and report
to an established school management team the energy use for
classrooms and various areas of the building. Even specific
computers can be monitored for energy use by the use of an AC
watt/hour/meter costing approximately $100. Larger computerized
hard-wired devises can check the flow of electricity to all parts
of an institution. However, the monitoring work and resulting
profile by the smaller meter has a potentially greater educational
value because it involves more students and is more easily
understood. Once the profile is established, ways of cutting costs
through the use of renewable energy applications should be
considered such as installing solar water heating units to replace
costly electric water heaters.

Transportation Profile. Youth can check on traffic flow on a
campus, the number of parking places available, how many of each
are filled at various times, and at what points overcrowded
conditions exist. Students can suggest ways to reduce the "peak
load" parking so valuable green space does not have to be
sacrificed. This could be achieved through restrictive auto use,
car pooling, alternative parking, and schedule changes.

Wildlife Inventory. Biology classes can monitor the number of
birds or mammals on parts of a campus and discover which wildlife
is a pest and which is deserving of encouragement. From such
inventories, young people are able to see the possibilities of bird
or wildlife sanctuaries or butterfly gardens.

Space Profile. People complain about the lack of room for
performing certain activities. Monitoring indoor or outdoor space
use could prove quite helpful for future space planning -- and
students can help. Often space could have multiple uses and thus
reduce the need for additional recreational fields. Classrooms can
double for non-class time activities, thus saving energy for
heating and cooling and reducing the need for more buildings.

April 16, 2004 Green Gardening

When I returned to Appalachia from Washington, DC in 1977 it
became apparent that our environmentally devastated region required
that we spend half of our time on advocacy work and the other half
on solar and appropriate technology demonstration and on raising
organic gardens. This is a sure sign that people, who have
experienced environmental damage, can recapture and experience
sustainable living and good gardening practices.

Elements. Healthy gardens require a practiced green thumb and
a kind heart. This kindness entails a number of things: proper
nutrients and moisture (including rainwater that is not
chlorinated), and attractive circumstances for birds, friendly
insects such as ladybugs, butterflies, frogs and other amphibians.
Proper gardening allows us to enter the natural cycles of birth,
maturation, fruition and dying/recycling. It invites us to regard
ornamental lawn areas as potential sources for green gardening.
Green gardeners plan for interplanting so that young and maturing
vegetables, fruits, berries and herbs have room to grow and produce
a rich harvest. Where possible such gardeners use native or
heritage seed and seedlings and avoid any non-native plants which
are prone to become invasive. They are willing to initiate organic
gardening methods, not using commercial chemical fertilizers or
pesticides. Instead, composted kitchen and yard wastes become a
key fertilizing ingredient. Gardening is done with small, energy
efficient implements such as spades and hoes, and more human
exercise. Seasonal extenders (cold frames and greenhouses) permit
year-round green gardening. Finally, green gardeners are drawn to
practice crop rotation and allow land to have a sabbatical rest.

Alternatives. The corporate enterprise of food production
(feedlots, corporate farms, etc.) require considerable expenditures
of energy for commercial transportation, food processing and
marketing. Agribusiness results in large quantities of wasted
produce in picking, preparation, freight, packaging for market and
the marketing process itself. Up to half of agribusiness produce
is wasted, while all unused green garden products can be recycled
through composting. Corporate farms use heavy equipment which
causes soil compaction and their monocropping methods only
encourage pests which are often controlled by ever heavier doses
of chemical pesticides. Green gardening is a gentle alternative to
agribusiness, requiring far less non-renewable fuel though, maybe,
a little more elbow grease.

Down to Earth. Green gardeners are attentive to upcoming
severe and mild weather conditions; they can feel the wind, tell
when it will rain or frost, when the sun will rise or be too hot
for mid-day work. They know when, where and what to plant. Being
mindful of the sun's position at various times of the year on a
given plot helps in better planning next year's green garden. The
green gardener knows where the afternoon shade first appears, and
how fast it advances through the garden area. In fact, green
gardening means being in intimate touch with the Earth.

April 17, 2004 Space Versus Down-to-Earth Costs

We often hear the costs of Star Wars programs as $50 billion
and wonder where have our priorities gone. But is everything with
the word "space" in it supposed to be as good as motherhood and
apple pie? Some of this is meant to keep high priced research
laboratories functioning at the expense of limited tax sources.

Benefits? Certainly there is benefit in learning whether life
has ever existed on Mars. At the moment of this writing probes are
occurring on that somewhat barren planet as they hunt for traces of
moisture. However, it is the research cost that astounds us.
Being a scientist I guess I am supposed to be always in favor of
space work of whatever type. But I am more in favor of keeping our
priorities down to Earth.

Other goodies. What about the billions it will cost to open
a scientific space station? No one has even totaled what such an
ongoing venture with its joy-riding millionaires will actually cost
before completion and through the lifetime of such projects.
Modest efforts at stemming the tide of HIV and AIDS, an epidemic
affecting forty million people as of this writing, have been placed
by the United Nations at about seven to ten billion dollars. The
differences in what could be done for suffering people on Earth and
what it will cost to have nebulous programs out in space are
immense.

Being down to Earth requires a certain spirituality which
challenges us all and makes us more in tune with reality. If we
allow the commercial interests or the space folks to have their way
the rich will get richer and the poor will be forgotten. Aren't
these dreamers and rocket-shooters just avoiding reality because it
is so hard to look in the face of emaciated children or the twelve
million orphans of AIDS? Here rests the sin of Affluence -- the
great inability to face reality and to really see people who are
hungry or naked or imprisoned. And this insensitivity will destroy
the soul, take away the life juices that should flow in the
compassionate human body. The end result is that the very nation
which loses its soul to sated pleasure and so-called guaranteed
security will lose its body as well.

Current needed programs. It is more difficult with each
passing year for the affluent to distinguish between real and
imaginary needs, defenses, enemies and friends. Our very nation is
on the verge of allowing pampered rich folks to pay $20 million for
trips on Soyuz rockets and the establishments of alternative abodes
on distant planets. Or they can read science fiction on how to
live by escaping the pollution and misery of the masses, and gamble
that they might be one of the lucky ones in a world of fewer and
fewer super affluent. And what about the taxpayer who has to foot
the bill for all that space-programming, space defense, space
travel, and alternative space living? Let's get back down to Earth
and stay here until we lick the problems we have here and now.

April 18, 2004 God's Mercy, Faith and April Showers

The stories of Easter are those of God's gentle mercy on all of
us poor suffering human beings. The road to Emmaus is traveled by
those quite disheartened, and yet with gentle prodding Jesus brings
them to deeper faith. See how their hearts burn when he explains
the Scriptures and they come to know him in the breaking of the
Bread. Other Easter stories are of compassion as with meeting Mary
in the Garden or the disciples going fishing and not catching
anything all night. God gently brings the doubting Thomas to faith
(John 20:19-31), the one needing positive proof -- and Jesus goes
on to bless those of us who do not have such opportunities.

The Mercy of God. We are asked on this day when we retell the
story of the institution of the Sacrament of Reconciliation about
God' great and abiding mercy towards all of us who has been loved
even while we were and are sinners. God's mercy comes to us who
are not blessed with physical contact experience of Thomas, but
still we find our faith whole and intact. Thomas is tolerated even
in his moments of lacking belief. Do we tolerate those doubters
and show the same mercy that God shows us? Thomas professes his
deepest and most profound manner of belief, and the devout
Christians of India are the direct descendants of those he
evangelized 2000 years ago. Blessed are those who did not see
but who believe.

The Merciful Showers of April. The word "shower" brings to
mind a party with gifts, a bathing method, or a bestowal on a lucky
or privileged person. Nature's mercy is the spring rain which
gently waters the Earth and allows the seeds to swell, plants to
grow, and blooms to come. Showers are gentle, not gully washers or
downpours. Showers take time to soak in and allow the forest cover
to retain moisture through sponge-like litter. A pleasant memory
of my youth was getting in the cows after a spring shower when all
the land smelled good and the air was clean and fresh with dripping
foliage and wet grass. The sky is broken with dark and light
clouds swirling about and one could guess where in the current
showering was occurring. Yes, April showers bring the May flowers.

Our Mercy Comes in Sharing. The goal of our Faith journey is
the Lord Jesus, and so we seek to be as merciful as God is
merciful. As the divine mercy showers down upon us, so we are to
shower the blessings we receive on others. No one of us can ever
be as merciful as is God who shows mercy in every act. We poor
human beings need God's mercy and others need ours as well. We
extend our faith outward to and for others. The early Christians
lived in common and shared according to those in need (Acts 2:42-
47). Please Lord, let our mercy and love show itself in the
sharing of our abundant resources with those who are lacking. We
are challenged to see others in need, whether face-to-face or at a
distance over the media. Let's discover those who grieve, are
tempted in faith, and who suffer from lack of the basic necessities
of life. In sharing with them, we come to ever deeper faith and we
imitate the God who is merciful and sharing with us.

April 19, 2004 National Hanging Out Day

Let's put our nation's clean wet clothes on the line. Every
day is a national "something," and this is one which I never
thought I'd reflect upon too deeply. In fact, I have had the
pleasure to meet and talk at length with Alexander Lee who is
instrumental in the "Hanging Out" concept. Alexander and his
associates in New England are striving to counter the ordinances
which require that there be no clothes drying. I suspect the
reason for such regulations is tidiness or being uncomfortable with
seeing someone else's intimates. We don't have such rules in this
part of the country, or do we? Hanging things out to dry
especially in the breezes of April seem so refreshing, and the dry
clothes smell so good. And think of all the energy saved by not
running the clothes dryers -- a heavy energy user. The quality of
the product and the saving of resources in getting to it add to a
win--win situation. So why would others object?

Objections? I have preliminary difficulty with such battles
because other conflicts seem so much more important to win.
However, that could be misleading because few battles are cleanly
won. Most go on and on with painful compromises. This one has a
limited objective -- let the citizens hang their clothes out to dry
as has been done since time immemorial. It is a freedom issue, a
resource conservation issue, a local issue, a symbol of what we
have all struggled for centuries to attain. Why should appliance
manufacturers dictate our daily cleaning practices? Why should we
be forced into the narrow constraints of the ones who mow the lawns
of the land a certain number of inches high, or eat only choice
cuts of red meat, or watch only certain sporting events occurring
in arenas where the rich have choice seats? Why the straitjacket
on clothes drying? If regulators are embarrassed about what is on
the line, then let them occupy themselves with something more
meaningful.

Circumstances? Yes, I generally have the use of a clothes line
and, yes, I have used that line on bright sunny summer days. But
I must be honest. On cold days when the wet trousers would freeze,
or on the threatening days when I have to watch for a few hours to
make sure it does not rain, or during the darkness of very early
morning when I often do laundry, I lapse into sticking the soggy
stuff into the dryer immediately at hand. It's more convenient
than waiting for the sun to come up or to shine through the clouds.

Convenience? We all must face the convenience question and
come to the realization that much of our use of electricity has to
do with saving time and effort. "Hanging out" then involves more
than just laundry. It is a way of viewing the world, of valuing
our time, of arranging schedules, and of drying the imperfect
articles with their stains and holes in the secrecy of the white
appliance. Hanging out is a commitment to a simple lifestyle
striving to find a place in an overly complex world. Yes, amid
such questions I'm glad we have people who make this day worth
thinking about, imitating, and celebrating. Thanks, Alexander.

April 20, 2004 Consider a Cordwood Building

At the Habitat Exposition in Vancouver, Canada in 1976 one of
the major attractions was a model cordwood dwelling used in the
bitter cold of the Prairie Provinces. It was supposed to keep
residents snug and warm and required little fuel to heat, even in
the characteristic sub-zero weather. Besides having good
insulating walls, the building is cheap, easy to build, and
beautiful, doesn't need extra supports or indoor walls (cordwood of
12 to 16 inches thickness serves both sides), is easy to preserve,
can be built with people who do not have to carry in and place
heavy logs and, with proper care, can last a long time. One needs
a supply of forest timber, of which red cedar is preferred.

Local Experience. ASPI's first cordwood building, which has
served well for two decades, was built with white oak that was
"recycled" and had been cut on neighboring tornado-damaged U.S.
Forest Service land and allowed to dry. The fairly well preserved
wood was available and so we got permission, hauled it out,
debarked it and cut it into 16-inch lengths. We built the entire
1000 square foot building (rounded at the two ends), with an ample
loft of equal area, for about $6,000, including dry composting
toilet; this price was for materials and some of the labor, though
the cordwood laying was done at no expense. That first southern
cordwood building was completed in 1982-3. ASPI later (in the
1990s) converted a mobile home into a second cordwood building
using scrap ends of pine posts and cut these to 12-inch lengths.
Details are included in the ASPI Technical Paper 6 which is
obtained from the organization at $2.00.

Added Remarks. We found the cordwood building is a wonderful
place to live, pray, study and work. It has served as both
residence and as office. There is something special in a building
which is quite warm in winter and quite cool in much of the summer
(the temperature creeps up and may become uncomfortable in late
summer). At such times dehumidifying or air cooling may be needed.
The building holds heat with its ample insulation in the ceiling
and with the energy mass of the concrete slab floor. What we did
not expect in the oak building was that wood bees will burrow into
the wood and lay their eggs. This does not amount to much, if it
happens only a few times, but the insects love the building and so
return again. Estimates are that it would take a century or more
for structural damage. We add natural wood preservative (half and
half mixture of turpentine and linseed oil with a little paraffin
added) every three years, and that deters wood bees for a time.

Plan ahead. Consider visiting first, and then build a cordwood
structure. Come and observe their simplicity, beauty and ability
to give a good forest feeling for those wishing to go for vacation
or a retreat in the woods. It is an exciting place for youth to
spend some time in a nature experience. However, when building
these as huts or hermitages, remember that the cost pr square foot
rises inversely according to size, with small ones having far less
usable space because of the thickness of the walls.

April 21, 2004 Plan Before You Build

"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us."
Winston Churchill, Time, Sept. 12, 1960

Building becomes a chore for many people. It puts our dreams
in permanent print and it tells us who we are and what we aspire to
become. I think most people know this, and that is why many spend
so much time planning their dream house or their business
establishment. Others do not know it, and build their
establishments on the quicksand of their own mental dreams of the
day. We are what we build, just as much as we are what we eat.
While we all eat, some of us never venture to build, and there's
right and wrong reasons for not doing so.

Take a middle course. Good planners who are also aware of
their own needs and those of the planet should consider a middle
ground in construction size and shape -- as in all their lifestyle
decisions -- between limited or construction for the destitute on
the lower end of the quantitative scale and excessive affluence on
the other end. We must be constantly reminded that spatial "needs"
have undergone an inflation during the past two decades, and that
the excessive structure is not good for occupants or for the Earth
itself.

Over-construction Planning. We seldom speak of the other
extreme though and so must emphasize that for the conservative
builder it is not economical to build too cheaply. We need not
follow the grand thinker who was a pro-bono architectural advisor
for the first ASPI building. He wanted to build a structure about
five hundred feet high so all would know where appropriate
technology is being practiced and what it is. However, we judged
it to be a little beyond our means and, while it would be nice if
it lasted a thousand years as he wished, that was just beyond us.

Under-construction Planning. My approach to building only what
is needed and building it in the smallest possible space is also
worth critical review. We did build housing for interns on stilts
on a hillside with recycled materials. Everything had to be
carried several hundred feet uphill, and we did not have long
timbers to tie in the building. Sometime later we had a terrible
wind storm in the mid-1990s and it twisted and shifted the building
to such a degree that we thought it unsafe to continue using it.
We thought the cost of rebuilding foundations of re-enforced
concrete would be too expensive and thus tore down the building.
Looking back, it was simply under-constructed, and thus did not
last. In the long run, it did not waste materials (because they
were reused and given away) but it did take resources to pay for
construction and then scrapping the structure after the windstorm.

Caution. While we say "think small," we must add to the
principle "Build small but adequately to accomplish the task for
which the space is to be used." Thinking too small could be a
dangerous waste of resources as much as thinking too large.

April 22, 2004 Earth Day: Retake the Shakertown Pledge

As we celebrate Earth Day this year it may be a fitting time to
review a pledge that was popular around the first Earth Day in 1970
and see how it still applies with our 21st century circumstances.

----------------------

Recognizing that the Earth and the fullness thereof is a gift
from our gracious God, and that we are called to cherish, nurture,
and provide loving stewardship of the Earth's resources, and
recognizing that life itself is a gift, and a call to
responsibility, joy, and celebration, I make the following
declarations:

1. I declare myself to be a world citizen.

2. I commit myself to lead an ecologically sound life.

3. I commit myself to lead a life of creative simplicity and to
share my personal wealth with the world's poor.

4. I commit myself to join with others in reshaping
institutions in order to bring about a more just global society in
which all people have full access to the needed resources for their
physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth.

5. I commit myself to occupational accountability, and in so
doing, I will seek to avoid the creation of products which cause
harm to others.

6. I affirm the gift of my body, and commit myself to its
proper nourishment and physical well-being.

7. I commit myself to examine continually my relations with
others, and to attempt to relate honestly, morally, and lovingly to
those around me.

8. I commit myself to personal renewal through prayer,
meditation, and study.

9. I commit myself to responsible participation in a community
of faith.

April 23, 2004 Six Green Construction Considerations

The following points apply to all new construction, once the
decision is made that a building project needs to be undertaken.

1. Small is Beautiful. Since 1970, Americans have doubled the
amount of residential, worship, educational and commercial interior
per capita. The trend towards ever more "necessary" space is a
major ecological burden on our limited Earth. Extra space means
extra energy and other resources for heating, cooling, building
materials, cleaning and maintenance supplies. Most people do not
realize that there is a comfort range between destitution (or space
shortage) and over-affluence (or too much space). A wise green
construction principle is to build only the space needed to attain
the end result desired. Older people want quality living that is
accessible and handy space, not excessive room.

2. Local Building Materials. Plan to construct with local
building materials (brick, stone, sand, pressed earth, wood, etc.).
Some recyclable building materials can be obtained in excellent
condition virtually everywhere. Reusing windows and frames,
flooring and other components is good economy and a model practice
for others to follow, at a time when most prefer higher-priced but
often lower-quality new products.

3. Renewable Energy Advantages. Solar or wind energy should be
considered in construction of green buildings. Where possible,
make use of unobstructed southern exposures. Consider passive
solar space design, heat retaining materials, solar photovoltaic
arrays, solar water heating units, and solar greenhouse additions.

4. Energy Efficiency Measures. Energy conserving measures
should be undertaken, especially using energy efficient double-pane
windows with proper glazing. Thermal insulation requirements
should be met in full to help reduce heating and cooling bills.
Choose appliances with their energy efficiency rating in mind.
Make compact fluorescent lighting the primary mode of lighting for
rooms, corridors, exit signs, etc., in order to achieve maximum
energy efficiency. Where possible, berm or inset new construction
into hillsides to allow for the use of earth as an insulating
material and as a possible heat source.

5. Water Conservation Devices. Use low-flow devices for
toilets, showers and for faucets. In dryer climates, consider a
rainwater cistern for watering houseplants, flower beds and for
other uses. An ideal situation is one where greywater is recycled
for growing plants or drained into constructed wetlands.

6. Native Greenspace. Value greenspace. Use native grasses,
flowers and shrubs to the highest degree possible. Plant native or
naturalized trees with preference for deciduous shade trees in the
south and southeast and evergreens as windbreaks in the usual
winter wind direction (generally north and west). Ring property
with trees or selected woody plants as vegetative privacy barriers.

April 24, 2004 Hydropower: Large and Small

Normally, when we think of April in Kentucky, we remember the
light misty rains and quick showers which keep the grass damp and
the soil moist most of April. However, dry Aprils do occur. But
in normal years the creeks flow with the abundant rainfall,
especially in late winter and spring, and it is the best time to
harness the power coming from free-flowing water.

Power in Running water. When considering running and flowing
water as shown in artificial waterfalls which are popular during
the spring Easter season, it is also possible to harness the
running streams even if they flow well during wet portions of the
year. In other words, this can be an auxiliary source of energy
much like the sun is during daylight hours. Small-scale
hydropower is more economical where the water essentially flows
year-round, but it is possible to have a reasonable payback even
with intermittent streams.

Ecological and Economic Questions -- Is it worth the effort to
build a dam and hydropower complex? Are not large-scale power
facilities with their massive dams and enormous turbines and their
cost of hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars somewhat
disturbing of land and local populations? Even medium dams block
waterways and disturb the natural ecosystem. Most know that these
dams block struggling salmon from the streams and reduce the
normal distribution of silt to lower reaches of the stream basic.
This disturbance of the eco-systems in watersheds has made us
conscious that clean renewable hydropower as coming at a cost which
must be acknowledged. The redepositing of the silt from many of
the man-made lakes make the utility of the project limited to a
window of time depending on the rate of lake siltation which is
undoubtedly occurring.

Small is Beautiful. Remember that many small-scale hydropower
units run on a very small amount of water flow -- often the over
flow from existing dams. This is what occurs at the home of Bob
Fairchild and Kathy Hogan. Their small-scale hydropower recharges
their batteries and gives sufficient electricity to run their
household during the spring months and sometimes beyond, depending
on rainfall for the particular year. The waters flow and move over
a miniature version of the more publicized hydropower systems of
the American west. No major dams have to be built except where
farm ponds do not presently exist (but are always needed). The
conduit pipe for the water needs only to be an inch or two in
diameter. The generator is boxed in by a protective container or
hood, and is easily accessible and maintained. Electricity flows
to a consuming place a short distance away.

Varied Regulations. Some states allow generated electricity to
flow into the existing system and essentially run the meter
backwards (net metering) with the utility paying a bill for the
contributed electricity -- which utilities are often reluctant to
do at the same retail price as the electricity sold.

April 25, 2004 Going Fishing

The Gospel reading for today is the added Chapter 21 to St.
John's narrative following what would appear to be a formal
conclusion. Apparently, this chapter was appended to emphasize the
humanness of the risen Lord. Here we see Jesus at the shore
directing where they could catch fish and showing a deep interest
in their undertakings. Here is a blessing of all our great and
ordinary undertakings. At Easter we are confirmed in our faith
that God is with us when we strive to do good things -- including
the pursuit of fishing. With Peter we say, "I am going fishing."

Down to Earth -- With the Earth as our focus we strive to
prepare the place for the coming of the Lord. That is best done by
doing the tasks assigned in a sincere and meaningful manner. Jesus
prepares a meal for the hungry laborers knowing how welcome is such
service after a fruitless work period.

Familiar Engagement -- Jesus calls them "boys." What is gained
from this chapter is a unique insight into the Jesus who is
involved in the world in which we live. Being Lord does not give
him a title that distances him from our needs and worries but
engages him all the more. Rather the Lord is with us here and now.

Heart-felt Purification -- Jesus asks Peter if he loves him
and really loves him (use of different words). We must realize
that our past must be put behind us so we can live a new life in
Christ, and that this is of utmost importance to complete the
mission we are each given to do. This is a summer call in Peter's
life and one which he must respond to fully.

Fidelity -- Jesus asks Peter to follow him all the way to the
end even when others will take over his freedom and power to
withdraw. There and then, the fullness of being one who follows
the risen Lord is realized.

Mystical -- "None dared ask him who he was." The Gospel of
John is one of signs and a certain quality that is both here and
beyond. For instance, the number of fish is the sum of cubes of
integers (1 + 125 + 27). We strive to come to know Christ in this
journey of faith but this is a venture into Mystery.

Comical -- Peter puts on his clothes and jumps into the water,
the only such instance known in Scripture. But on second thought
is not the entire narrative a study in the humor of God.

Application. In some ways this last part of St. John's Gospel
stands alone and in other ways it is the whole of our relationship
with the risen Lord. Christ is in our midst loving, working and
encouraging us to continue in our journey of faith. Many of us
have that summer call of life to reform ourselves and live better
lives. We are not taken from our present surroundings but made to
do what we are called to do better in the circumstances such as
working and fishing.

April 26, 2004 Murphy's Law in Appalachia

* In the Mountains, if it can go wrong, it will; if it can go
right, it might -- but don't count on it.

* A person who's proud to be a "hillbilly," doesn't know a bad
word from a good one.

* Guess the Appalachian weather; don't listen to professionals.

* Don't expect to be canonized here while alive. People don't
take easily to "living saints."

* The world's largest occupation is Monday Morning Quarter-
backing -- even for those of us who don't follow football.

* Some outside travelers who come to Appalachia would be
better off going to a zoo. Remember, it's not nice to stare at
poor folks.

* It's okay to be a tourist. Just admit it, and be willing to
offer pay for the Appalachian experience. Of course, mountain
folks won't take anything, but it is proper to offer anyway.

* No one's dumber than those huntin' for dumb folks. The rest
of us are standing behind the "no hunting" sign.

* In Appalachia, if you imagine something's wrong, it's worse.

* "I don't care to" means in Appalachian "yes, I will."

* Caution: the one you're talking to is most likely related
to the one you're talking about.

* These hills have seen every kind of crook, and buried all of
them.

* Molasses are, not is.

* Here, the three most hated things are waspers, whispers and
IRSpers.

* Appalachia is where we pronounce "tower" like "tire," and
"tire" like "tar," and "tar" somewhat like "tower."

* Like the rest of the world, Appalachians often leave their
junk around. But we don't like outsiders bringing their junk here
in order to get a tax write-off and avoid disposal fees.

* The scenery is a resource; see it, but don't touch it.

* You're welcome to a mess of wild greens, but don't make a
mess in collecting them.

April 27, 2004 Seven Suggestions for a Beginning Gardener

1. Start small: Taking on too much garden space is always a
burden. Most individuals who are restricted in mobility can handle
a plot of about one hundred square feet easily. Most of the work
comes early on, especially in the preparation of the bed itself.
If someone is indisposed to the heavier work of preparation, this
is ideally an opportunity to ask able-bodied persons to assist.
Generally, seeding, planting, weeding, thinning, cultivating, and
harvesting of such a small area can be handled by one person.

2. Determine variety: Nothing is more detrimental to
gardening popularity than to have too much of a good thing at one
time and a lack of resources to preserve the excess produce.
Variety can change all that for, when one gets just a taste and not
too much, that is the stimulus to grow a bigger garden next year.

3. Plan plantings: How one places the vegetables in the beds,
both for companionship (some plants do not like to be near others)
and for growing space is important. Don't be overly rigid, but
still allow that which wants to bush out or vine to start in the
bed and overflow outward generally in a sunny direction. A pumpkin
could take up the entire bed but, if directed out to the lawn,
would only require the immediate gardenbed area of the roots. Put
taller plants or vine trellises to the north end and smaller plants
on the south side of the garden

4. Go organic: Besides the many reasons listed elsewhere,
there is the ability to watch and handle any pest infestation which
may occur. Most pests can be removed by hand in small areas and
immediately when detected. Certain flowers dissuade pests from
coming near.

5. Extend growing season: Spring and autumn vegetables should
be planted keeping in mind their tolerance to seasonal weather
changes. While cabbage, kale, mustard, parsley, onions, and
turnips can withstand early (or late) frosts, they do not like hot
weather. Other plants such as melons, peppers, tomatoes, and
beans cannot stand the cold. The choice means so much. Those
which can withstand the frosts can be kept productive by protecting
with temporary cold frames such as those with plastic, paper or
Remay (synthetic fabric) coverings. See Year-Round Gardening ASPI
TP-7.

6. Make beds beautiful: The inclusion of flowers, both to curb
pests and to add color and variety is highly important. A pleasing
garden is always one that beckons the caretaker to come and spend
more time both reflecting and working. And both activities are
necessary. See Establishing a Floral-Vegetable Garden TP-53.

7. Take notes: Gardening can be a spiritual enterprise and so
a record of plantings and yields may be helpful for next year's
ventures.

April 28, 2004 Ten Ways to Save Time

Some speak of being able to kill time and to give a day of
total rest and I would concur that this is important. We should
block off periods of rest both daily (plenty of sleep), weekly (a
day of rest at the week's end), monthly (an extra free day or so)
and annually (a vacation). It makes for good health and well being
-- and it makes our active time more productive. The following are
ten ways to preserve the rhythm of rest and work:

* Tithe time for planning. The best time saving is planning on
a yearly, monthly, weekly and daily level. Consider this as part
of work and plan in both rest time and work flexibility.

* Meditate and exercise together. We need daily physical
exercise and also meditation time. If the exercise has an
automatic component, then this becomes a perfect time to pray.

* Carry ample reading material. A doctor's visit or waiting
for someone is perfect for keeping up with reading. If an
unexpected storm makes an abrupt change of plans, reading material
will reduce stress and consume waiting time.

* Don't watch television. At least curb it substantially and
get your news from radio early in the morning or at periodic times
during the day. It allows for other simultaneous activities.

* Do chores in batches. If we buy larger quantities of
underwear or more groceries (through planning), we reduce the
number of trips to a laundry or to the grocery store.

* Early to rise. Much productive work can be done in the very
early hours before the world becomes busy and intrudes on your
time. While I would never say all productive people are early
risers, they are souls who have solid lengths of work time.

* Do real puzzles. All must keep their minds occupied but I've
found that many of my writings are the results of having a puzzle
that is real life and worth solving in leisure time.

* Cut down on meeting. I did not retire from work, only from
meetings. All organizers of such events find this heresy, but I am
convinced that frequency of meetings are wastes of time by those
who find it hard to work alone -- when much has to be done.

* Socialize intensely but infrequently. Much can be said for
partying at various times -- and its good for sanity. But being
alone in productive silence is far more satisfying for some -- and
it saves much travel time.

* Phone rather than e-mail. A strange one but given the junk
and empty chatter about, the latter becomes a burden which can take
up much previous time. A well placed phone call can be short and
sweet and far more definitive and betting protected than e-mail.

April 29, 2004 Sacred Travel: Pilgrimages

A great majority of the world's religious believers belong to
communities which aspire to go on a pilgrimage at least once in a
lifetime or even on a more frequent basis. Mecca, the Ganges
River and Lourdes are quite different places, but all are
destinations for sacred travel to religious believers. Several
suggestions may be in order if you are or know someone aspiring to
make a pilgrimage:

* Why? Develop or discern a good reason -- not just that others
take pilgrimages, and you would like to do the same. Have a good
reason such as a prayer of thanksgiving for a favor received, the
beginning of a new way of life, a life-threatening illness or
malady, or in reparation for wrongdoing of the past. All types of
prayer can lead to all kinds of sacred trips.

* Where? Determine the destination carefully after proper
discernment. Once decided, read and learn about the place.

* When? Do you have or are you willing to take the free time
for such travel? Some religious traditions have set times of the
year for such events, and the more seasonally liturgical groups
will render certain festive occasions as ideal for the travel. All
in all, choose a time which will give maximum spiritual reward and
which is an adequate span so the trip does not have to be hurried.
If other matters are pressing, it may be best to postpone the
pilgrimage to a later time when less distracted.

* By what means? Plan well in advance the mode of travel which
will best convey a spiritual benefit to you. How luxurious do you
want the travel accommodations to be? (Many regard the journey as
a time of sacrifice and prayer.) Pilgrims of earlier times had
some very arduous options which included foot, horse or mule, or
sailing ship. We can still choose between land vehicles (public or
private), air or sea. People with time and a greater sense of a
deeper religious experience will opt to make all or some of the
final phases of the trip on foot -- or even on their knees.

* With whom? Some opt to travel in a group though they may not
know fellow pilgrims. In fact, they may prefer it that way so
there will be fewer tourist temptations, and one can give more to
the spiritual goals ahead. Others may want certain companions.

* What to pack? Travel as light as possible without causing a
major inconvenience by failing to bring the clothes that are
needed. We ultra-light packers sometimes end up doing without in
cooler-than- expected weather or when there is little time to
rewash basic items. Consider adding materials for reading and for
sharing with others. Take along literature on the places traveled
through and the destination. Add a daybook for keeping notes.

* What comes after? Plan to share your religious experience
with others.

April 30, 2004 Encourage Volunteer Activity

Springtime seems good volunteer time to go out and help others.
I have served as a prison chaplain, and this work is recognized by
a banquet each April. Volunteers help make up the difference for
shortages in personnel or resources. Often the care-receiver is a
double victim and must suffer both for the unfortunate
circumstances and the lack of adequate resources to help others.

Preparation by the Volunteer Recruiter. It is unfair to
sincere volunteers that they are invited to come to a situation
without knowing what to expect. So often a little more preparation
beforehand or during the early stages of the work would greatly
improve the ultimate achievements of the volunteers. We have to
remember they expect to give and to take away which they can
cherish as a worthwhile experience. Shortcomings could be avoided
by a few simple steps: clearly define roles and expectations;
provide proper and satisfactory supervision, especially at the
beginning; make sure to explain that the volunteer mission is not
to change policy or goals; give good preparation for cultural and
economic differences between caregiver and taker; recruit only
self-motivated persons; get them to become acquainted with those
for whom they will assist; make it clear that the volunteer or
intern will not be given special treatment; and review and thank
the volunteers before their departure.

Preparation by the Volunteer. Know what you are getting into,
and take any preparation seriously. Don't expect to do more than
what can be done. Make sure beforehand that your help is really
needed and cannot be done better and more effectively by a more
local or immediately available group; be aware that volunteering
sometimes saves money and so don't let this work be a substitute
for paid staff while supervisors may even get good salaries; have
expectations which are realistic, and welcome the added benefits
which are unexpected such as new friends or a far better
understanding of a situation; enter more as a learner than a
teacher and don't refrain from asking help from supervisors
especially in the beginning. Misunderstandings may arise as to
available resources. It is always better to know the situation
before committing oneself, rather than after the program begins.
Keep a journal of the experience, and share it with others.

Cooperative Ventures. Volunteers should go as equals, not
superior or inferior to the ones being assisted. The experience is
a cooperative venture. If you come from a distance, find a way for
the ones assisted to come at least in part and help your community.
In other words conceive of cooperative ventures. Consider the
project as a joint research operation that includes all parties.
All forms of monitoring work could be successfully undertaken using
a combination of expertise and workers from within and outside the
region. Include the land and its residents as part of the
cooperative venture. Land and people go together, but it is a
little tricky getting everything working together. Hopefully, all
parties will enjoy the experience together.

Copyright © 2007 Earth Healing, Inc. All rights reserved.

Albert J. Fritsch, Director
Janet Powell, Developer
Mary Byrd Davis, Editor
Paul Gallimore, ERAS Coordinator

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Daily Reflections by Al Fritsch, S.J.

Daily Reflections
by Al Fritsch, S.J.