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At this time of year, I am at the Wetlands every chance I get. On these cold mornings, I am often the only human there. A newspaper article recently suggested work might start as soon as 2013 on the South Lawrence Trafficway, the highway so desperately wanted by a few who commute, but haven’t stopped to think much about anything or anyone else. I think about all the ignorant comments I’ve read in the local paper: “It’s not a real wetlands. It’s just a stinky swamp. Nothing lives there, just mosquitoes,” etc. I wonder how many of these people have ever taken a walk through. I imagine few of them have. If they did, they would see the wonder of beavers swimming and slapping their tails, minks full of curiosity peaking out from the cattails, deer galloping along the road, a northern harrier circling a field, a red-tailed hawk sitting in tree, a bald eagle cruising through, a great horned owl, a line of great blue herons, and thousands of blackbirds. They would see sparrows, bluebirds, vireos, turtles, snakes, frogs, foxes, opossums, coyotes, thousands of insects, and many, many more. I pray for awareness, that people will visit the wetlands, recognize this sacred space, and promote peace for all who live there.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor