We lose a part of ourselves when we have stopped experiencing the joy of seeing a deer even though we have seen hundreds, if not thousands. We become a bit blind when we see the majesty of an eagle in updraft soaring flight and find it commonplace. Experiencing the intimacy of a stream, the mystery of the moon, and the strength of the peaks have become old-school. I once pointed to Mt Baker beaming in its sun and snow covered brilliance. In reply, "Oh." It's as if we are all saying "oh" over and over again to the humble picture show at every turn of our head, every gaze of our eyes.

We are losing the places and spaces where these images, sights and sounds are found. Worse, we are losing a sense of ourselves and God by not sniffing, touching, tasting, breathing and seeing all the details of nature within both the huge provincial parks and the smallest of green spaces in cities. This knowing and experiencing the natural wonders is not only for the sighted or able-bodied, it is for all. Were we to only have one of our 5 senses, it would be enough to say as did the Creator, "This is good, very good."