Dewitt Jones—John Muir—Synchronicity

Posted on September 20, 2021 Leave a Comment

Before a very bright student planted the seed that grew into the Biodesign experience, I was unaware of the Jungian phenomenon known as “synchronicity.” These are events (scientific or other) that converge simultaneously with no known cause.

When I decided to break with tradition and initiate a high school advanced biology program, that did not focus on “massive memorization of minutiae,” there was no model to follow. However, as a student of John Muir, I was aware of one of his many famous quotes; “One day’s exposure to mountains is worth a cartload of books,” so I decided to employ the adage as a primary goal for the new class. The first semester curriculum would involve studying the life and work of Muir and include a 6-day trip into the Yosemite wilderness. If Muir were correct, the six days the students spent in Yosemite could provide visions, marvels and wonders that could help shape their lives. I am not so sure that the same could be said about memorizing all the parts of a fetal pig.

As a long-time follower of National Geographic magazine, I decided that another major theme of the Class would be to emulate the editors whose goal was to send photographers out into the world in search for the platonic values of Truth, Beauty and Goodness. The Geographic also championed the noble virtue of being dedicated to “the illimitable freedom of the human mind.”

During one of the early trips to the Yosemite wilderness a synchronicity began that conflated the two goals and it took 42 years to come full circle.

It was the last day of a 6-day Biodesign trip and the students gifted me with a copy of, “John Muir’s America.” The book featured stunning wilderness photos by Dewitt Jones and a brilliant text by T.H. Watkins. I was unaware of either man, but the book became a treasure trove of knowledge and beautiful images that I eagerly shared for nearly 30 years.

Several months ago, on a total whim, I decided to try to track Jones down in order to thank him for the huge contribution he made to my life and career. Through the magic of the internet, I found his beautiful website and a contact address at Molokai, Hawaii. By browsing through it I discovered that his extraordinary career went ballistic when National Geographic commissioned him to go out into the world and find “things to celebrate.” He became the magazine’s lead photographer for 20 years. Since then, he has written nine books, created several films and became, “a voice calling from the wilderness,” proclaiming the healing powers of Mother Nature. He also became a motivational speaker and produced extraordinary promotional ads for multinational corporations. More photos HERE.

I sent him a heartfelt thank-you letter and referred him to our book (and website) which he helped inspire. I could see by his website that he must be extremely busy and I did not expect a reply.

Several days ago, I was shocked beyond belief to see the following e-mail.

Lowell,

It’s ben far too long since you sent your lovely e-mail to me. I set it aside to be answered “in depth” and you know what happened? Life got in the way.

I reread your letter about a month ago and decided I would read the book before answering.

It took Amazon one month to get the book to me here in Hawaii. But it did arrive and I have been wandering through it delighting in the stories, mysteries and epiphanies. What an accomplishment.

I am delighted to be considered part of the inspiration for all of this. My love for Nature and the wilderness runs deep and I too have spent my life sharing its spiritual aspect with others.

I imagine if you follow me you will know about my tedx talk. If not, you can watch it here. https://dewittjones.com/pages/tedx-dewitt-jones

Let me know about your continued journey and I will let you know about mine.

Aloha from Molokai, Hawaii

As it turns out, Jones has become one of the most extraordinary people I have ever encountered. He belongs to a pantheon of a few of the finest Nature photographers in the world. I was deeply moved that a man of his stature (likely with a hectic schedule) would take the time to read about the wilderness adventures of a scattered group of high school students. Perhaps, like me, they resonated with his soul because they found a multitude of things in Nature to celebrate. Their individual celebrations were contagious and became group celebrations.

However, in my case, although visiting Yosemite, Grand Canyon and the Mendocino Coast provided countless scenic wonders, marvels, even miracles of Nature, none of the places compared to the mystery and magnificence of each one of the students I was so richly blessed to journey with. They transformed my life.

Paraphrasing John Muir, to me those students are immortal.

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

Butterflies and Human Existence

Posted on September 1, 2021 Leave a Comment

Greetings valued friends,

We are experiencing an exciting upsurge of readers from around the world. We reckon that some have missed some of our favorite blogs ergo, we will revise and repost a few of them. Thanks for supporting Biodesign Out For A Walk. LY

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” Maya Angelou

Never before in human history has there been such a wealth of knowledge that has allowed man to contemplate the great panoply of mysteries and miracles including, the origin of The Universe—Life—Human Spirituality. Anthropologists suggest that the first faint stirrings of human spirituality began about 100,000 years ago. Perhaps this is why anthropologist Loren Eiseley wrote in The Immense Journey:

“The story of Eden is a greater allegory than man has ever guessed. For it was man walking memoryless through bars of sunlight and shade in the morning of the world, sat down and passed a wondering hand across his heavy forehead. Time and darkness, knowledge of good and evil have walked with him ever since.”

Eiseley is tacitly alluding to the origin of human values, consciousness and free will and not so tacitly suggesting that modern men (including scientists) still have very little understanding of their origin. He leaves us with two tantalizing mysteries.

When was the “light” turned on in human beings?

Who were the first humans with a soul?

Is it not logical to assume that, before the emergence of consciousness, our ancestors were totally controlled by instinctive behavior? The mere fact that millions of life forms have succeeded for approximately four billion years by instinctive behavior suggests that there was no need for consciousness or self-awareness. In other words, there was no need for modern man to evolve.

If people are unable to fully appreciate the changes every butterfly must go through, perhaps it is because they simply cannot fathom the billions of cellular/molecular modifications involved. They are not alone. Anthropologists are at a loss to explain the symbolic (and spiritual) importance of the Eden story and trained entomologists are basically clueless about the instinctive biochemical process of butterfly metamorphosis.

In simple terms, after the moth spins a cocoon or the butterfly secrets a chrysalis, the larvae dissolve themselves into a cellular/molecular “soup.” All of the larval structures are dismantled and molecule-by-molecule reassembled into a moth or butterfly. This means that even the larval brain dissolves and is reconfigured into a totally different creation with radically different functions including directing the miracle of flight.

As a biological process this may be extraordinary, but it does not threaten us. However, when metamorphosis is used as a metaphor for spiritual growth, it can become terrifying and reason enough to not welcome the changes necessary to achieve a higher awareness.

It should not surprise us to note that the words metamorphosis and metaphor are similar. Metamorphosis= ‘transform, change shape,’ and metaphor= transfer the meaning of a word into a figure of speech. When people feel internal “butterflies” it is highly likely that they are experiencing spiritual stirrings involving love or fear.

This is fascinating because human childbirth just may be the closest example of metamorphosis, whereby each infant leaves a “saline marine ecosystem” and becomes an air-breathing land mammal. From the infant’s perspective the ordeal of birth must be traumatic and may explain why many newborns scream in protest.

Little wonder it is called, “The Miracle of Life,” and why females all over the world (regardless of race, religion or ethnicity) often share an innate awareness of human spirituality that is associated with motherhood.

Intriguingly, R.W. Emerson (1803), Henry Thoreau (1817), and John Muir (1838) were born within 35 years of each other. They all became literary giants who championed the emergent spiritual philosophy of Human Transcendence. In an interesting paradox, transcendentalism proposes that in order to become fully human, people must “transcend” their physical and mental limitations in order to be “reborn;” metamorphosis!

Emerson, Thoreau and Muir all believed that people contemplating nature, especially wilderness areas, increase their odds of “born again” experiences.

Either that, or perhaps they can take a cue from Maya Angelou’s metaphorical butterflies and muster up the courage to become “spiritual soup” and embrace the changes that they must undergo to become more sensitive and enlightened beings.

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

Photo credit: Joseph Lacy, Natalija Mislevicha

Foxes And The Art Of Playing

Posted on July 21, 2021 Leave a Comment

“Surely all God’s people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes – all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them.” – John Muir- The Story of My Boyhood and Youth, (1913)

Native Americans hold a deep respect for animal life, especially birds and mammals. They are often celebrated in their art, legends, totems and folklore. Many shamans believe that animals provide a window into the spirit world. They also provide a source of allegorical humor as in the case of the coyote that chased his tail so fast that he ran right up his own rectum. The story reveals the Indian’s awareness of the foolishness of circular logic and the danger of avoiding opportunities for spiritual growth.

Paradoxically, one of the most important and least understood spiritual gifts is the art of playing. Stoic Charles Darwin had no clue where, why and how playfulness originated. The only explanation he and other scientists have offered is that it helps prepare youngsters for the task of hunting. Collectively, they ignore the fact that many young and adult birds and mammals seem to play, simply for the joy of playing and it has nothing to do with survival skills. Frolicking dolphins are the epitome of playfulness, river otters can spend hours daily sliding down riverbanks, coyotes are masterful pranksters, ravens and crows are notorious players and John Muir described the water ouzel as wonderfully playful.

Unlike cats who bury their scat and dogs who squat and poop at the nearest convenient spot, foxes seem to be more playful and creative where they leave their calling card. Favorite places on our property are on our redwood deck, at our back door and under our clothesline. However, they often choose large rocks that they have to climb to do their business. Some of these require a good deal of athletic ability to place the poop in just the right spot. Many of the pooping spots seem to be whimsical.

Whenever we have leftover chicken, pork or beef bones, my wife puts them on a familiar rock in our back yard and without exception one of the resident foxes will retrieve them. We often see them making their rounds, which include stopping at the “bone rock.”

Recently, an adult fox chased our cat across our back yard and up on our back porch. The cat scampered up a corner post and rested on a crossbeam. The fox stood on the porch and helplessly looked up. Our back door was open and the fox looked into our kitchen as if he were thinking about inviting himself in.

Great naturalists are often great storytellers. John Muir’s story of “Stickeen” ranks among the best “people/dog” stories ever told. However, anthropologist Loren Eiseley wrote a story about a fox pup that rivals the great naturalist raconteurs of the world.

‘The creature was very young. He was alone in a dread universe. I crept on my knees around the prow and crouched beside him. It was a small fox pup from under the timbers who looked up at me. God knows what happened to his brothers and sisters. His parent must not have been home from hunting.

He innocently selected what I think was a chicken bone from an untidy pile of splintered rubbish and shook it at me invitingly. There was a vast and playful humor in his face…Here was the thing in the midst of the bones, the wide-eyed, innocent fox inviting me to play, with the innate courtesy of his two forepaws placed appealingly together, along with a mock shake of the head. The universe was swinging in some fantastic fashion around to present its face, and the face was so small that the universe itself was laughing.

It was not a time for human dignity. It was a time only for the careful observance of amenities written behind the stars. Gravely I arranged my forepaws while the puppy whimpered with ill-concealed excitement. I drew the breath of a fox’s den into my nostrils. On impulse, I picked clumsily a whiter bone and shook it in teeth that that had not entirely forgotten their original purpose. Round and round we tumbled for one ecstatic moment. For just a moment I held the universe at bay by the simple expedient of sitting on my haunches before a fox den and tumbling about with a chicken bone. It is the gravest, most meaningful act I shall ever accomplish but, as Thoreau once remarked of some peculiar errand of his own, there is no use reporting it to the Royal Society.

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

Kahlil Gibran: The Teaching/Learning Paradox

Posted on June 7, 2021 Leave a Comment

Of the 50 (more or less) books that were used to formulate the Biodesign curriculum, one of my favorites was, The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran. The book contains 26 stellar meditations on the holistic nature of human beings, including intimate topics ranging from love, joy/sorrow, death and everything in between.

Conservative estimates are that the book has sold upward of 50 million copies (nine million in the US) and has been translated into over 100 languages. During the last 95 years it has undergone 188 consecutive print runs, longer that any other book except the Holy Bible. I have quoted the book 1000s of times.

So poets have concluded that everything is ironic, get over it! I suppose a corollary could be that everything is a paradox that I get to celebrate.

Ergo: In a splendid irony, the one line in The Prophet, that has been a stunning paradox for me, is in his meditation on “Teaching.”

“For the vision of one man lends not its wings to another man.”

WHAT? The thought should send chills down every teacher’s spine. Did he really believe that? If so, why would he write a book of his visions that have influenced millions of people? I understand Zola Hurston’s, “You got to go there to know there,” but what if people have no clue where the “where” is they are supposed go? John Muir understood the enigma when he wrote, “No amount of word-making will ever make a single soul to know these mountains.” However, just as Muir understood that it is impossible to define the mystique of the mountains, using words like visions and wings as spiritual metaphors can be equally illusive and impossible to define.

As for sharing visions, Christie Young has been my helpmate and spiritual guide for over 57 years. Together we have formed a triangular relationship with God at the apex. One of the earlier trips, after we were married, was to Yosemite National Park. We were drawn to the wilderness and met spiritual giants like John Muir, H-D Thoreau and RW Emerson. The men all agreed that all designs in Nature are reflections of a living God: ergo; Biodesigns. With her help and guidance, eventually the Biodesign Class emerged as a gift from God and brought us into contact with thousands of people to share visions with.

Finally, after 50 years of discussions, contemplation and inner turmoil, I have arrived at a resolution to Gibran’s paradox. He may be partly correct, but also partly incorrect. It occurs to me that an alternative synonym for vision could be inspiration. All people, even children, are capable of inspiring others to reach for higher ground. Heroes like Dr. Martin Luther King, JFK, Abe Lincoln and John Muir have inspired countless millions of people to soar to physical, mental and spiritual heights beyond their wildest dreams. They might be a grocery clerk, shopkeeper or taxi cab driver, but all can arrive at a grateful (and graceful) state of living.

While discussing Biodesign Out For A Walk, I am not being disingenuous by stating that I was not the author. I just happened to be along on 63 trips into the wilderness and mentally recorded a very tiny sample of the millions of thoughts and emotions that over 700 young adults experienced. Their thoughts and reflections were so vividly real that they were etched into my soul so that I did not need a journal or notebook to arrange the stories into a loosely formatted manuscript. Ex-colleague Linda Williamson (English teacher extraordinaire) lovingly rescued me and gathered up 280 pages and deftly segregated them into 31 chapters between two covers. Without her vision and guidance the book would never have happened.

Lowell H. Young

“Editor”: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

Gregor Mendel Comes to Biology Classes

Posted on March 15, 2021 Leave a Comment

One of my favorite days of the year was the day Gregor Mendel came to Class as a guest lecturer. He did much of his work on sweet pea plants, but the basic principles apply to most plants and animals. Usually, he worked in solitude in a monastery with no one understanding what he was doing.

Interestingly, he decided not to publish his results and after he died his exhaustive notes and journals were stored in the attic of the monastery. 50 years later, a newly appointed Abbot directed a major spring-cleaning operation. A bon fire was built to incinerate the unwanted clutter.

Thankfully, just before Mendel’s work was about to be tossed on the fire, the Abbot decided to look into the folders. He didn’t understand what Mendel had done, but packed up all the files and sent them to the local university. The biology professors were shocked and elated with his discoveries, which later earned him the title of: “Father of genetics.”

In a funny coincidence, the term “selective breeding” (shown on the chalk board) relates to the placard on the bookshelf.

Getting anything done around here is like mating elephants. There is a lot of pushing and shoving and loud trumpeting and 18 months later the results are revealed.

The reality of the elephants became a metaphor for each year of Biodesign sans reproduction. LOL As we explored the interrelatedness of Nature and human spirituality, there was often a lot of mental pushing and shoving and loud trumpeting. All metaphors break down and typically, the results were not magically evident at nine months, but would take a lifetime to be revealed.

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

St. Valentine’s Day: The Miracle of Love.

Posted on February 8, 2021 Leave a Comment

One of my favorite learning activities of each Biodesign Class was to consider the socio-cultural importance of the plants, animals and people associated with secular and religious holidays, including Valentine’s Day.

Valentino of Terni was a 3^rd century Catholic Bishop who was beheaded by Roman soldiers under the order of Claudius II. His “crimes” included secretly marrying couples in Christian nuptial ceremonies, which were contrary to pagan Roman law. Also, he boldly and publicly cited the apostle Paul by claiming that love was God’s greatest gift to humankind. When given the choice of renouncing his faith or face execution, he opted for death. He died at the age of 42.

Although Valentine lived before microscopes were invented, they would eventually play an instrumental role in unlocking some of the biological secrets that lead to the sacred act of procreation.

In 1590, Zacharias Janssen invented the first microscope. In 1677, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, was the first to describe, “wee cavorting beasties,” which included human spermatozoa.

Discoveries in this area led to the discovery of perhaps one of the greatest human mysteries; the union of a single sperm and ovum to produce the human zygote.

According to Lewis Thomas, M.D./ author of The Medusa and the Snail; “The mere existence of that cell should be one of the greatest astonishments of earth. People ought to be walking around all day, all through their waking hours, talking of nothing but that cell.”

Each sperm contains about 3 billion bases of genetic information, representing 750 Mbytes of digital information. The average human ejaculate contains around 180 million sperm cells. So, that’s 180 x 10^6 haploid cells x 750 Mbytes/haploid cell = 135 x10^9 Mbytes=135000 Terabytes!!!! Without this process happening, the human race would die out in one generation.

Contemplating this reminded me of Roger Sperry, M.D./neurobiologist and Nobel laureate, author of, “Science and Moral Priority,” and “Yoking Science and Religion.” We were connected by a huge synchronicity, which occurred in August 1983. Omni Magazine published an issue that included Sperry’s discoveries of the human right-brain/ left-brain phenomena and a related article, “The Superiority of the Female Brain.”

The article focused on the cerebral hemispheres and corpus collosum, which essentially is a wall between the two sides of the brain. Stated briefly, female brains have verbal centers in both hemispheres with more connections between words, memories, and feelings. Male brains tend to only have verbal centers in the left hemisphere with fewer connections between words, memories, and feelings. This has led to the facetious reference to males as having “reptilian” brains. LOL

During the early years of the Biodesign Class, it dawned on me that the girls had an inside track on spirituality. This was confirmed many times in class, but especially following each epic field trip. When the students presented their post-trip reflections, the girls were often better at describing transcending moments involving mystery, wonder and awe. On those occasions a typical male response was; “That’s exactly how I felt, but I couldn’t find the words to express myself adequately.” They had sincerely identified and described the limitations of their own brains.

PBS aired a program focused on love and the human brain. The speaker was a psychiatrist/marriage counselor, with a record of successfully helping many dysfunctional couples avoid the devastating trip to a divorce court. He asserted that many of the problems that they encounter (including matters of intimacy) are due to their failure to understand the differences between female and male brains. He proceeded to offer some techniques that could be used to improve looking, listening and feeling that would hopefully improve communication skills and not only save, but enrich their marriage.

One example he cited was that most men understand that a box of chocolates (preferably dark) can often spark a romantic interlude. However, he observed, most men have not made the connection that a trip to a women’s shoe boutique can also trigger a similar favorable result. He admitted that he had no scientific evidence of the connection of new shoes to female libido, but opined that mysteries were always beyond the purview of science.

While the Catholic Church has waffled over whether Valentine is a legitimate saint or not, his living spirit continues to empower millions of lovers to say, “I Love You,” right out loud.

It is a message that has found favor in the retail sector. Valentine greeting card, candy and flower sales exceed 20 billion dollars annually in the US.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

A Chronological Look at the Advent Season

Posted on December 7, 2020 Leave a Comment

According to the latest Pew research poll on religious preference, 4% of the American population self-identify as atheists. Does this mean that the other 96% of the people are on some form of spiritual path? Do they walk in solitude, or have they joined the caravan of seekers that is very long and very old?

“There is a principle which is pure, and placed  in the human mind, which in different places  and ages has had different names. It is, however,  pure and proceeds from God. It is deep and inward, confined to no forms of religion, nor excluded from any, where the heart stands in perfect sincerity.” – John Woolman

For many traditional Christians, the four weeks of Advent offer a designated period for reflecting over the history of their spiritual walk, hopefully to help prepare them for the coming year. Some anthropologists theorize that the dawn of mankind’s spiritual quest may have occurred about 100,000 years ago. Evidently they have recovered some primitive stone relics that appear to be offerings to a Higher Spiritual Power.

If this is so, it is a stunning revelation to think that it took 95,000 years for the Hindu religion to emerge; currently 900 million followers.

It took 96,000 years before Moses hiked up Mt. Sinai to record “The Ten Commandments” and help establish Judaism; current world population of about 15 million followers.

It took about 97,400 years for Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu to write the, “Tao Te Ching,” and launch “Taoism” (The Way). Taoism has no Godhead and is widely regarded as a philosophy dedicated to living in harmony with Nature and fellow humans; current followers number about 20 million.

About the same time, Gautama Buddha established Buddhism. Buddhism also lacks a Godhead and he warned his followers to not make a religion out of his teachings; currently about 300 million followers.

About 1,500 years ago, the Prophet Muhammad emerged and founded the Islamic religion; current population of about 1.8 billion followers.

Meanwhile, there are an estimated 1.4 billion people who are spiritual seekers but remain unaffiliated with a formal creed or religion. These could include our Native American brothers and sisters as well as countless indigenous tribes around the world.

However, last and (arguably) the most important of all; 98,000 years elapsed before the greatest human mystery, wonder and miracle on Earth occurred; the birth of Jesus Christ. The event has resulted in the greatest story ever told and is celebrated by 2.3 billion followers.

The story’s greatness was not overlooked by world-renown anthropologist, Loren Eiseley, who wrote:

“Whether we speak of a God come down to earth or a man inspired toward God and betrayed upon a cross, the dream was great and shook the world like a storm.”

Although the “cross” is probably the most common symbol of Christianity, perhaps the symbolism should; “not be confined to any form of religion, nor excluded from any.”

The vertical beam could represent anyone whose base is grounded in the spiritual search for universal truth, beauty and goodness and upper end extends to infinity, eternity and a loving Creator. The horizontal beam could represent the open arms of anyone who embraces the wisdom of Mother Nature, humanity and the quintessential importance of faith, hope and love.

Even though the time frames may not prove to be exact, what is not in doubt is that spirituality has played a huge role in the biological and socio-cultural evolution of mankind. Perhaps, this is what Advent is all about.

Blessings on this wonderful time of year.

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

Thanksgiving Blessings

Posted on November 25, 2020 Leave a Comment

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
― Meister Eckhart

Paraphrasing fellow “biology watcher,” Lewis Thomas (“The Lives of a Cell”) we ought to be greeting each other daily with ecstasy and wonderment by how magnificently we have been created!

When was the last time someone told you; “you are made in the image of God”? If this has never happened to you, I would be honored to be the first. Although the words can be found in the Bible (and other spiritual sources) reading them is not the same as having another person offer the ultimate human validation. It gives credence to Pierre de Chardin’s contention that humans are first and foremost spiritual beings. If this is true, then we are supremely privileged to walk in the presence of spiritual giants. Many of the world’s greatest people belong to the pantheon of believers.

Edward Farrell addresses this wonderful possibility in his collection of “Celtic Meditations:” titled “People.”

“The deepest contemplation next to God is another person. You are little less than the angels, crown of creation, image of God. What is man that God is mindful of him…? The most beautiful, fascinating creature in all the world is another person—the face, smile, eyes, vibration, walk, voice. In a single face there is incredible variety.”

Ironically, due to covid-19, this year millions of people will feel the tragic spiritual disconnect of family and friends by sheltering-in-place as nuclear families to celebrate their Thanksgiving Dinner.

It may be that the greatest Thanksgiving gift a person can give is to suggest to a family member, friend or loved one that they truly are, “made in the image of God.” This, of course, includes all of our Fb friends:

“We are in each other’s life for a reason. Thank you for showing up.”

This Thanksgiving Season we are especially grateful that our home miraculously survived the “Boysen Fire” and we are able to send blessings from our home to yours.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Lowell & Christie Young

Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

Audubon Society: Eight-Step Philosophy

Posted on September 21, 2020 Leave a Comment

When I began teaching environmental biology (1964) it seemed prudent to join The Audubon Society. The society was formed in 1905 probably inspired by John Muir’s creation of the Sierra Club in 1892. The membership included a monthly magazine that contained stunning Nature photos and relevant current event articles. At the beginning of each issue, the editors included: “A Statement of Audubon Philosophy.”

We believe in the wisdom of Nature’s design.
We know that soil, water, plants and wild creatures depend on each other and are vital to human life.
We recognize that each living thing links to many others in the chain of nature.
We believe that persistent research into the intricate patterns of outdoor life will help to assure wise use of Earth’s abundance.
We condemn no wild creature and work to assure that no living species shall be lost.
We believe that every generation should be able to experience spiritual and physical refreshment in places where primitive nature is undisturbed.
So we will be vigilant to protect wilderness areas, refuges, and parks and to encourage good use of nature’s storehouse of resources.
We dedicate ourselves to the pleasant task of opening the eyes of young and old that all may come to enjoy the beauty of the outdoor world and share in conserving its wonders forever.

– Audubon: March 1954

It is no wonder that the opening line of “The Audubon Philosophy” became part of the title and foundation that The Biodesign Class was built on.

Although I knew the steps by heart, my relationship with “step 6” was purely intellectual and definitely not soul-stirring. That all changed in 1972 when Lettie asked her fateful question (Biodesign Out For A Walk, Page 2) which led to meeting John Muir and hundreds of Naturalists, saints, sinners, sages and poets who were seeking a spirit-filled life.

My relationship with students was not unilateral, but reciprocal. I was supremely blessed to see Yosemite, Grand Canyon and California’s Mendocino Coast through the eyes of over 700 students. Mother Nature may have been opening their eyes and in turn, they were opening mine.

This is exactly what the Audubon Society was promoting and it was an honor to identify with and represent their philosophy.

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

Bees: Wonderfully And Fearfully Made

Posted on April 29, 2020 Leave a Comment

Excerpt: Biodesign Out For A Walk, Chap. 11, Matthew II

“Who can comprehend a submicroscopic, life-enabling molecule of information that can guide an ant or bee or elephant into making millions of yes/no, life/death decisions? Every one has its miracle story, none of which is humanly comprehensible.”

Although 2020 is officially the Chinese “Year Of The Rat,” in the Young homestead it has become the year of the bee. It began with a big spike in the Mason Bee population in our garden. Mason bees are mostly female who lead an almost totally solitary life with the only contact made while mating with males who typically die shortly thereafter. The males do not have a stinger, and the females will only sting if trapped or squeezed. This makes them an ideal neighbor for the home garden, since they pose little to no threat of stinging.

In many ways, honeybees are starkly different. They are highly social and a healthy colony may include 50,000 bees. They depend on each other and if bothered can be easily provoked. Giving up their lives, female “worker bees” can insert a stinger, usually attached to a venom sac, that injects venom into human skin. The sting is often painful and the effects of the venom can last for days.

None of the aforementioned information was of much importance before a tree-service crew arrived to fell one of our huge oak trees that was posing a threat to our neighbor’s property. The tree was safely lowered and it became my task to clean up the brush and saw the trunk and limbs into rounds. That’s when I discovered a honeybee hive hidden in the hollow of the tree.

While I consider myself a devout Naturalist, the prospect of being stung by 100s of angry bees was quite scary. I quickly invoked Charles Darwin (survival-of-the-fittest) and decided the hive had to be eliminated. When I shared this view with my wife Christie, she was shocked by the possibility of losing so many of her bee friends. Of course, I should have known that she would channel St. Francis of Assisi and her concern conjured up the words of one of the hymns that our family enjoyed singing in church:

“All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful

The Lord God made them all.”

“All Things Bright and Beautiful” is an Anglican hymn, also sung in many other Christian denominations. The words are by Cecil Frances Alexander and were first published in her Hymns for Little Children.

Having no idea what to do, I consulted a local apiarist for advice. She quickly discerned that, due to the size of the trunk, relocating the hive intact would not be feasible. She mentioned another option, but indicated it may take two weeks to remove the bees. Meanwhile, she was keenly concerned about the newly horizontal position of the hive and indicated that even one hot day could alter the structural integrity of the hive and possibly cause irreparable damage.

“Whatever you do,” she said, “ better do it at night to minimize risk to you and trauma to the bees.” Having no beekeeper equipment I had to improvise and prepare for an after-dark mission. My chainsaw would be needed to make crosscuts above and below the hive in order to return the trunk to the vertical position. Because of evening noise regulations I notified our neighbors and the local police about my pending soiree with the bees. The police dispatcher seemed amused with my request, probably because it had nothing to do with Covid-19.

A long-sleeved shirt and Levis would be covered by mechanic’s coveralls, wrapped with duct tape at the ankles. A rain parka with hood that could be cinched down tightly around my face that would be covered with a facemask. A hiker’s headlight was at the ready. Leather work gloves would hopefully protect my hands. Christie mused that I looked like medical personnel working in a Covid hospital. I double-checked the chainsaw and procured bubble-wrap to seal the entrance. I had never embarked on an operation like this and the fear of possible attack by a swarm of angry bees was palpable. As nightfall approached we both felt like we might lose our dinner.

Everything was in place and the bubble-wrap was quickly inserted. And then I was cursed by a double whammy of quotes: Whether Murphy’s Law, “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong,” or Robert Burn’s; “The best laid plans of mice and men;” the chainsaw refused to start. However, after using a couple of farmhand expletives, the motor roared to life.

I made the first crosscut 18 in. below the hive opening and rolled the round out of the way. Then I quickly made the top cut, 18 in. above the opening. The hardest part was repositioning the 300 lb. stump into the vertical position. As I wrapped my arms around the stump section, the frenetic buzzing of thousands of angry bees resonated throughout my body. I tried not to think of what would become of me if they escaped their temporary prison and attacked the source of the alien noise and shocking vibrations.

The section of trunk was secured in the vertical position and I fled the scene. I had brought along a 15 ft. pole saw that I used to retrieve the bubble-wrap, and then quickly retreated to the safety of our home. Meanwhile, Christie was texting every stage of the drama with two of our daughters. All three were cheering me on from at least six feet away from the hive.

As I write this, life in the hive seems to be returning to normal. The bees are busy flying to and fro on their busy errands.

We hope that the hive did not sustain any permanent damage.

I would not describe the experience as “bee’s knees,” but an adrenaline-inducing event that was hopefully once-in-a-lifetime.

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com