At some point in life, most of us fall victim to stereotyping or outright prejudice. Our animal friends are also not immune to this dis-ease. Other species are stereotyped based on their appearance, reputation, or preconceived ideas passed on to us in childhood. We tend to hate and fear what we don’t understand, and miss out on much of the beauty the world has to offer.
Animals, like humans, are distinctly unique, with different personalities and idiosyncrasies. When we recognize them as individuals, stereotypes lose their power, and our fears become wonder and appreciation of the intimate connection we share with all life.
For more information on Lil’ Drac and Bat World Sanctuary’s mission, visit their website or Facebook page. If you’d like to learn more about Short-Tailed Fruit Bats and their contribution to earth’s eco-system, visit Bat Conservation International.
“To be whole. To be complete. Wildness reminds us what it means to be human, what we are connected to rather than what we are separate from.” -Terry Tempest Williams
Have you ever held any stereotypes about an animal that proved to be unfounded and if so, what were they?
Like spring fledglings wary of nest-leaving, many of us spend countless years avoiding life’s edges. We set our boundaries, ruffle our feathers, and settle down in the safety of our comfort zone. The view may be nice but ultimately, not much happens there. One day we wake up and realize that all the trappings we’ve adorned our nest with, are just so much fluff. We’ve negotiated, compromised, and oftentimes settled for far less than we deserve.
It took me over a decade to realize that life truly begins at the edges, those stepping off places where the act itself becomes a leap of faith. Several years after my first leap from marriage to singleness, I decided to celebrate my 50th birthday with another – from the open door of an airplane 2.5 miles above the earth.
Photo by Robin Kellam
For someone with a lifelong fear of both heights and flying, this was no small leap. Yet I found it far less daunting than the one that preceded it. I’d spent years perched on the edge of that nest, feathers flapping in the breeze, when I should have just jumped. Or prayed for a push. I was putting fluffy butt syndrome behind me – it was time to fly.
Several dream-filled days were spent with the book Jump! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy by Tom Buchanan, which has a wealth of information for the first-time jumper. If a beginner has ever asked the question, he probably answered it here. I know all mine were, along with a few I’d never thought to ask.
After days of web surfing and researching drop zones, Skydive Carolina in Chester, SC emerged the clear choice. Due to the abbreviated ground school, I decided to make a tandem jump where the student is attached to the instructor via a harness and both share a single parachute.
Since skydiving is a weather-dependent sport, it can be a hit or miss proposition (no pun intended). My first three scheduled jumps were misses and ended in cancellation, two due to weather-related events and one to a sinus infection that would have never made it to altitude.
When Sunday morning arrived with sun, calm winds, and clear sinuses, I drove to the drop zone several hours ahead of schedule. A warm place in the sun near the fenced perimeter was the perfect vantage point to watch load after load of jumpers board the plane, fly to altitude, and float back to earth.
After our group was called, we were treated to a 30-minute ground school that included a short video and the signing of we-cannot-be-held-responsible-if-you-die-here waivers.
Any second thoughts were immediately replaced by the sinking realization that drop zone jumpsuits are not designed for the petite skydiver. Much of the ascent to altitude was spent rolling up and tucking in excess material; enough to fashion a backup to our backup, should the first two fail. Fashion statement aside, I was still horrified at the prospect of looking like a wadded up load of laundry hurtling toward earth.
Through no fault of the pilot, the plane ride up was hell. I don’t like planes, have never liked planes, and that door couldn’t open soon enough. Waiting for 25 others to jump ahead of you equals more hell, so don’t sit in the back.
Photo by Robin Kellam
Words can’t do justice to the exit and free fall. There’s the fleeting sensation of falling for perhaps two seconds, and then it’s as if a comforting and stable column of air catches you and you’re floating – suspended 2.5 miles above the earth. The view is breathtaking, the wind noise incredibly loud, and there’s no sense of ground rush before you pull the ripcord at 5,500 feet.
Chute deployment and deceleration from 120mph to 10mph, was incredibly calm and smooth as the canopy slowly inflated above us for our trip back to earth.
The canopy ride is like a four-minute dance in descent. Toggles are ultra-responsive, and big circles, tight turns, and breath-taking drops are there for the asking. It’s complete and total joy in the moment, a freedom and aliveness like none I’ve experienced before or since. I think I might know how a bird feels when it flies – like a feather on the breath of God.
There will always be safety in the nest and pleasing, delightful views from the security of our comfort zone. The question is do we stay and settle for the view, or leap into the blue skies waiting just over the edge.
“When you come to the edge of all the light you have known, and are about to step out into darkness, Faith is knowing one of two things will happen; There will be something to stand on, or you will be taught to fly.” -Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Have you taken a leap of faith or ventured out of your comfort zone recently? What did you do and how has it changed your life for the better?
Animals are master teachers of living in the moment. So much of life is about doing, we sometimes forget to just be. May you find delight in the simple things that make time stand still, fill your heart with happiness, and make you jump for joy.
What simple things in life bring you the most joy and happiness? Are you gifting yourself with any Maru Moments this weekend?
There are some things I’ll never outgrow. Lying in the grass watching clouds dance, the sound of the sea in a conch shell, and splashing in rain puddles still bring me joy. I don’t climb as many trees these days but I’ve been known to hug a few. And while I’ll never be a Master Chef, I still make a pretty mean mud pie.
Imagine my delight at finding this YouTube video on Facebook several months ago. It was like a reaffirmation of childhood, an invitation to visit the world e.e. Cummings called mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.
Have you ever heard of cob cottages?
Me either.
But after watching this video, I Googled them and found that cob homes simply speak to my soul. And what they say is “you know you want one!”
These little gems remind me of down-to-earth tree houses, or Hobbit homes from Middle Earth. Which is essentially where they come from as cob is just a mixture of clay, sand, straw, and water. After mixing to the consistency of bread dough, it’s hand shaped and sculpted into thick, free form, curving walls.
The all natural building materials produce a non-toxic, extremely durable, and sustainable home – and a creation that speaks to my inner child.
Their porous nature makes them highly resistant to weathering and they require very little upkeep. As author and builder Daniel Chiras says, “It won’t burn, bugs won’t eat it, and it’s dirt cheap.” Smaller homes can be constructed for $900-$3000, even eliminating the need for a mortgage.
Photo courtesy of Michael Bunch
Champions of energy efficiency, their 1-2’ thick walls absorb the sun’s energy and re-emit it as heat. This keeps them cool in summer and warm in winter while maintaining an almost constant indoor temperature. Heating needs can be met with a wood-burning stove, and cob can even be used to construct a heated bench or bed, fed by the stove’s flue.
My cold-natured self says this deserves kudos in the eco-friendly, staying-warm-is-everything department.
Photo courtesy of Michael Bunch
The organic building materials are a blank canvas awaiting creative, artistic expression. Since cob cottages are sculpted by hand, the architectural and design possibilities are endless, assuring no two are alike.
Windows, arches, niches, and shelves can be shaped and placed to reflect personal expression, and the entire dwelling can be designed in relation to its surroundings. Through focusing on views and the placement of doors and windows, outdoor and indoor spaces can be integrated into a free flowing work of natural art.
Cob homes make great community projects much like old fashioned barn raisings. If all the needed materials are available on site, cost is minimal and group building can greatly reduce construction time. Through bartering and sharing of skills and labor, entire communities can be built while eliminating deforestation and crippling mortgages.
These comfortable, affordable, low-impact homes beg to be built, lived in, and passed down from generation to generation.
Perhaps this is why cob homes are enjoying a resurgence in Oregon and the northwest. As the energy crisis, global warming, habitat loss, and extinction can attest, we’re serving up a recipe for global disaster.
Imagine countless communities built in relationship to, and with respect for nature. Maybe it’s time we showed Mother Earth some mercy and spent more time playing in the mud.
For more information on the Meka Cottage, to schedule a visit, or to contact the builder, Michael Bunch, visit his website at Artisan Builders Collective.
What’s your idea of a dream house? Has it changed through the years or does it include elements that fascinated and delighted you as a child?
