May 10 land dedication

 

Dennis and I invited you here for three Purposes:

·         To remind us that we are caretakers, not owners, of this land

·         To give you a chance to enjoy the land

·         To invite you to give us ideas for how to use the land

 

The driveway is in and Dennis cleared a path from the Pumpkin Vine bike trail. He also put string around the house,  delineated a walk and the garage and put up warning signs.

Helen Glick had earlier asked me what was blooming and I had said nothing. (This reflects my lack of knowledge and some of my uncertainty about how to plant the land and keep it native, yet have some of the flowers I love.) She said there is always something to use for an arrangement and found honeysuckle bushes, wild cherry tree, sumac and wild grape vines and created an amazing arrangement.

As people arrived, we invited them to explore the land, for fun and to help us find out about the land and to locate stones for the fireplace, good locations for benches and gardens, etc. We learned that we have wild raspberries and strawberries, May Apples, a red fox with den identified with wild turkey feathers and rabbit parts outside, spring beauties, skunk cabbage . . .and maybe a marijuana plot.

Josue Vielman tells me about great places for a bonfire and to hang hammocks while Jorge Vielman listens.

 

Everyone was invited to create a sign of a place special to them, real or imaginary, to put on our post. (You may add one when you come to visit.) John Buschert chose his Goshen street.

 

 

Then we gathered for words of dedication, women and children on one side, men on the other, as appropriate in conservative Mennonite tradition. :)

Dedication:

Buying 35 acres of land at this time in our lives is complete nonsense if we plan to mow and garden all of it. In fact, down at the Goshen city offices, we’re known as the crazy people who took a year to own that complicated northeast property. But Dennis has a vision of living on a special piece of land and I have the vision of sharing this exceptional find with others.

Dennis retired two years ago; I left my work three years ago. Wendell Berry says, “It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have to come to our real work, and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey.” This land is big enough for us and you and another hundred people to journey on. We hope that when you want to walk and pray, you come over; that when children you love need a stream to play in; you come on over; that when you need to study wetlands for a science project, you know where to visit. We look forward to hearing your ideas for how we might care for the land and make it available to others so that these acres are full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

To bless the land today, I invite you to take a stake and some bubbles. We’ll bless these. Then take your stake and a group of people to a special place you find on the property. If you are highly mobile on this land, please go further away. Put all your names on the stake and a few words of blessing. Pound the stake in the ground and blow bubbles to the north, south, east and west. Pick your things up and let’s gather for the blessing.

(Face the east) As we look to the east, land of the rising sun which daily reminds us of the empty tomb, we ask you creator to remind us of new beginnings every day. We ask your blessing on this land and neighbours to the east and on us, as we seek your wisdom.

 

 

(Face the south) As we look to the south, Place of Passion, Fire, Creation and inspiration, whose warm breath reminds us of summer days, we ask you creator to ignite our hearts with love. We ask your blessing on this land and neighbours to the south and on us, as we seek your love.

 

(Face the west) As we look to the west, the land of the setting Sun, of water and Autumn's whisper, Bless us with the knowledge of peace which follows the harvest of a fruitful life. We ask your blessing on this land and neighbours to the west and on us, as we seek your peace.

 

 

(Face the north) As we look to the north, place of quiet, stillness, of cave and deep earth, Place of thankfulness for the knowledge and blessings that have come to us with time, We ask your blessing on this land and neighbours to the north and on us, as we seek your quiet in our souls.

After you plant your stake, you might blow bubbles in each of the four directions, saying “We ask your blessing on this land and neighbours to the east and on us.

If you find stones near your blessing spot, bring them back and join them with any your brought with you to form a cairn under the Double Oak. Then come to the kitchen and join us for refreshments.

For now, please bless the land, that it become a place of healing where we hear God speak.

  ---

The words were followed by conversation and food we often serve: dried fruit/nut mix, popcorn and chocolate chip cookies, with cold drinks provided by family and friends.

Let us know when you want to come visit this special piece of land! (Dennis and Eric continue to hunt morels.)