"we do not inherit the land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children"

This quote appears in a calendar sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation this month. It is a Native American Proverb. How intensely this conveys the wisdom of people who chose to live in harmony with the majesty of their environment, instead of aggressively digging tunnels and hoarding the things that would bring us momentary pleasure. If truly we were to borrow things of the earth from our children, I wonder how we might create the oil, natural gas and water that we have drilled and used. I wonder if there will be the delicate balance of gases in the atmosphere so they may breathe. I wonder if they will see the flowers bloom every spring and the magic of tasting the first freshly hand-picked fruits at harvest on an orchard.

Maybe it's time to engage the act of sharing and return, instead of borrow. As we borrow our own times here on earth, we must acknowledge our footprints write the pages to our legacies as our actions carve the roads to tomorrow.