The 2nd Hour (what they call Sunday School at my church) was good today. The Earth Ministry team met and talked about what it means to us, spiritually, to take care of the earth. We read a letter from Chief Seattle to the President of the United States, back in the 1800's. His letter spoke of the Native American's love of the land, and his concern that the white man wanted to claim ownership of the land, yet was not a good guardian of it's resources and creatures. It was extremely moving (and so true still today), and afterwards we discussed what "green spirituality" means to us, and how we practice it. My favorite part of the class was when we described our favorite in-nature places, and how we felt when we were there. That got me to thinking about the places for me where I've felt most connected to God and the earth, in a very spiritual, yet physical way. Here's my list:
- At the absolute top of my list, was sailing to the beach at Ft. McRae, and camping on the sailboat. "Ft McRae" is a practically deserted, incredibly beautiful, barrier island about a 2 hour boat-ride to the mouth of Escambia Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. The beautiful white-sand dunes, and swaying sea oats--the endless sky streaked with cumulus clouds--seeing dolphins cruising in the Gulf just off the beach---Paradise! And not another human around for miles.
- My family home in Alberta, Canada...a house with a huge wrap-around porch perched on a hill that was the highest point of land for 100 miles east of the Rockies. The house faced west so we had an incredible view of the majestic Canadian Rockies, and we overlooked a valley with rolling "foothills", ponds, green pastures and miles of swaying birch, aspen, maple, and pine trees. Again it was quite solitary...our closest neighbors lived a mile away. During the summers the landscape was a deep verdant green, the mountains a majestic purple with snow-capped peaks...in the fall the trees blazed in a riot of color, with shades of gold, orange and red, and in the winter the trees, ground and mountains were all blanketed with snow, like a fairy-land. At night, in the winter, you could see sheets of phospherescent northern lights crackling and dancing across the sky. In the summer, I loved to ride my horse to an even more secluded clearing a little ways down the hill, where I would sit amongst the wild-flowers and eat a picnic lunch, drinking in my surroundings. I thought of it as my own special, secret place and I loved it.
- Highway 93, from Lake Louise to Jasper, high in the mountain passes of Banff National Park, is by far the most beautiful scenic drive I've ever been on (with a possible exception of the Road to Hana on Maui), with Payto Lake being my favorite scenic stop along that road. It's away from the hustle and bustle of Banff and Lake Louise, and the lake shines like a brilliant turquoise jewel as one looks down into the steep valley carved out by the many glaciers that feed it and produce it's brilliant color. It's beauty is awe-inspiring and almost surreal. I can't stand to think that global warming may one day melt all the glaciers, and the Payto lakes of the world will be lost.
- Anytime I'm on the salty brine of the ocean. Favorite sailing and snorkeling memories include: chartering and crewing a 38' Beneteau in the British Virgin Islands, with Len as captain, and myself as first mate. Fantastic views both above and below water, fantastic sailing weather, great food and local "color"...who could ask for anything more! Oh yeah..and as an extra bonus.. tons of sea turtles! Another favorite memory is of whale-watching off Cape Cod. We saw a pod of over 60 whales, up close, in a mind-blowing show of their power and skills, as they breached, rolled, slapped fins and tails all around us. Incredible!
- And last, but not least, my favorite place here in Georgia, my back porch, nestled high in the trees on the edge of Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield National Park.
As Thanksgiving approaches I am very grateful for the gifts I have received from each of these special places. These memories are wonderfully rich and satisfying...a different kind of "soul" food.
Speaking of food, it's time for my recipe of the week: Sicilian Chicken with Raisins and Olives. I combined 3 different recipes I've collected over the years to come up with the following:
Sicilian Chicken with Raisins and Olives
1/2 c. Marsala wine, or 1/2 c. white wine + 1 tsp sugar
3/4 c. golden raisins
2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, halved and sliced
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/4 c. pine nuts
1/4 c. green olives, preferably Sicilian, sliced
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
salt, pepper and Tony C's to taste
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsps julienned fresh basil
1 & 1/2--2 lbs. skinless, boneless chicken breast halves and/or thigh (if using breasts, pound to 1/2 inch thickness)
1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese (optional)
Soak the raisins in the wine for at least 10 minutes. Trim and pound the chicken breasts, cut into 6 oz portions. Sprinkle w/ salt, pepper and Tony C's. Saute in the olive oil over med-high heat until browned on both sides (about 2-3 min per side). Remove chicken and transfer to a plate. Add the onions to the pan and cook until soft (2-4 min). Add the garlic, pine nuts, olives, bay leaves and oregano and cook another 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the tomatoes, raisins and wine, and the balsalmic vinegar and cook until slightly thickened, about 5 more minutes. Remove the bay leaves and add the chicken and it's juices back into the pan. Continue cooking another 8-10 minutes or until chicken is done (juices should run clear if cut into it). Add the parmesan and fresh basil and serve. Can serve over angel hair pasta or whole wheat couscous if desired.
