Earth - Connection

So the X- prize has been won. And the future of space travel is a bit closer.
Today I revisited a book called the Home Planet conceived by Kevin Kelley that has outstanding photographs from space of our planet with text by astronauts worldwide.

“Suddenly from behind the rim of the moon, in long, slow motion movements of immense majesty, there emerges a sparkling blue & white jewel, a light, delicate sky-blue sphere laced with slow swirling veils of white, rising gradually like a small pearl in a black sea of mystery. It takes more than a moment to fully realize this is Earth…home.” Edgar Mitchell, USA.

Our connectedness to the earth is obvious from space.
Rumi writes in conversation “Friend our closeness is this...anywhere you put your foot, feel me in the firmness under you. How is it with this love I see your world and not you?”

Locally, we connect to the earth during harvest season –celebrating the abundance and sharing the fruits of our labor. I live in California and was recently in NJ- the garden state. My husband’s first request was to pick raspberries and get fresh baked pies…blueberry pies, apple pie, strawberry-rhubarb pie and pecan pie… yummm. And of course we shared them with family and friends.

Whenever I return to my home town in NJ I am reminded of how much I love the greenness of the area. LA has palm trees –in NJ the deciduous trees (oak, maple, elm) flourish. Here the oak trees set their roots down deep into the soil. Their foundation provides support and stability so that the trunk grows tall- yet flexible enough to endure the elements. Branching outward to new endeavors I wonder if my roots strong enough to support my sky-reaching? As I visit my home town it is as if I did not leave. And things have changed –friends have moved on…the landscape has shifted…my parents use my old bed room as a walk in closet…and my parents have whiter hair. Even after all my far reaching adventures and creating my own nest…there is still no place like…home.