Lehigh Gap To Devil's Pulpit

Today we hiked six miles in Lehigh Gap. We started at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center and hiked the Prairie Grass Trail, Charcoal Trail, and Woodpecker Trail. It was a fun and interesting hike because the terrain was so varied; sometimes we were trudging through snow and ice, sometimes navigating rock strewn trails, and sometimes walking through grassy fields.

Much of the terrain looks stark from the devastation caused by the zinc mines, but over the years environmental groups have reclaimed the area and slowly vegetation is returning. It was a reminder of the fragility of the natural ecosystems and the importance of caring for and protecting our planet.

Overlooking the river

Patches of snow were everywhere, some trails were still covered.

Grass is starting to re-vegetate this area.

Terrain is still rather stark.

The view from the Devil's Pulpit area. I chose to skip the steep descent due to the still icy trail conditions.

Devastation caused by zinc mine

A view of Palmerton

Whitehall Parkway

I took advantage of the warmer temperatures today for some local hiking on the Ironton Rail Trail and Whitehall Parkway. We saw a bluebird today! Spring is right around the corner!

Whitehall Parkway. You can see my shadow in the lower left as I take a photo!

Winter is slowly melting away....

Bahá'í Community of Lehigh Valley Participates in Interfaith Action Day On Global Warming

image source: National Preach-In on Global Warming

Today the Baha'i Community of the Lehigh Valley participated in Interfaith Power and Light's "Interfaith Action Days on Global Warming" by having a devotional gathering, educational talk, and brunch.

We gathered at Mary Anne and Richard Rood's home and had a lovely breakfast with friendship, fellowship, and lots of conversation.

After listening to some inspirational Native American flute music by Kevin Locke, we had a lovely devotional emphasizing themes of nature, beauty, justice, and unity.

Whatever I behold I readily discover that it maketh Thee known unto me, and it remindeth me of Thy signs, and of Thy tokens, and of Thy testimonies. By Thy glory! Every time I lift up mine eyes unto Thy heaven, I call to mind Thy highness and Thy loftiness, and Thine incomparable glory and greatness; and every time I turn my gaze to Thine earth, I am made to recognize the evidences of Thy power and the tokens of Thy bounty. And when I behold the sea, I find that it speaketh to me of Thy majesty, and of the potency of Thy might, and of Thy sovereignty and Thy grandeur. And at whatever time I contemplate the mountains, I am led to discover the ensigns of Thy victory and the standards of Thine Omnipotence.
- Bahá'u'lláh

Every created thing in the whole universe is but a door leading into His knowledge, a sign of His sovereignty, a revelation of His names, a symbol of His majesty, a token of His power, a means of admittance into His straight Path....
-Bahá'u'lláh,

O son of man! If thine eyes be turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit thee and cleave unto that which will profit mankind. And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself.
- Bahá’u’lláh

Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.
- Bahá'u'lláh


Afterward, Eric Romo presented a very educational and fascinating talk on the exponential growth of solar energy, its economic and environmental advantages, and its usefulness in addressing our energy needs in a sustainable way. Eric is Vice President of Strategic Development at GreenVolts, a company providing scalable, reliable, high performance solar energy. There were many questions and lots of discussion.





Then we listened to Dan Fogelberg's "Earth Anthem"

And we are but an island
In an ocean
This is our home
Third from the sun
Let it be evergreen
Let it be evergreen
And we are but an island
In an ocean
This is our home
Third from the sun
God, keep it evergreen
To keep it ever green
I would lay my life down
And we are but an island
In an ocean
This is our home
Third from the sun
Let it be evergreen
Let it be evergreen

We had a very inspirational and educational morning, reflecting on the spiritual requirement to care for Earth and all of its diverse inhabitants, and discussing a very practical plan of action.