Evita Krislock is Vice-President of the Faith and Environment Network (http://faithandenvironmentnetwork.org/), and runs Women in Ministry (http://www.facebook.com/WMinistry), a community for women living their faith.

For those in or near Spokane, celebrate Earth Day April 21, on Main between Browne and Division. Visit http://www.facebook.com/earthdayspokane for more.

The arid land around Moses Lake with grandparents that cherished that land and the bounty, taught me about growing, sharing and making lemonade out of lemons, or in our case when the power went out having cantaloupe and ice cream for dinner by candlelight. I learned about fishing, hunting, dust storms and how quickly life as we know it can change. Like a dance that you are learning, not sure of the moves, you can hear the rhythm and you try to follow.

The dance changed with a move to Morton, nestled at the foot of Mount Rainier where we learned about mountains, creeks, saw mills, fires, clear cuts, tadpoles and the rich earthy smell after a rain, (lots of rain), slugs and opportunities to explore the wild. The dance was different.  My teachers were different and yet the same. The biggest difference was that I was developing awareness about my personal responsibilities. Fifth grade brought conservation classes as part of the science curriculum, learning different aspects of how life worked in the wild. They took us out into nature and taught us. I remember the colors, the smells and sheer wonder at the beauty of the trees and rivers. I was swept up into the arms of my dance partner, Mother Nature and all that she had to offer.

Swept away by the dance, everything turned upside down with a move to the city. Like any new transplant it took time to re-establish roots and for me, mourning what was thought lost. Yet the strains of the music still danced in my head. I shared that with others as we explored our environment and learned there was so much more to learn. The ocean, lakes, new worlds and new dances with familiar trees and mountains, yet freeways, concrete, and sheer numbers of people provided a different perspective and challenge. The music was changing and I did not know how to keep up with the dance.

Like everyone, things continued to change. Moving to the Palouse, everything was different; professors, fellow students, so much more to learn about life, my world and the whole wide world, war, death, new life. Where was the rhythm in this music? How could anyone dance to this? The pace changed; it felt as though no one was leading this dance.

Fast forward to today. My world is bigger or perhaps the rest of the world got smaller? We do what we can to teach our children, to live into that which we profess to believe. We were lucky to have a variety of experiences and perspectives provide resources and information to draw upon, to incorporate into our lifestyle, our teaching, and our lessons. Appreciation for all of Creation, for the diversity that enables it to work for all of us if only we pause and listen to the amazing orchestra providing a delightful song which we are all invited to dance.

As Earth Day returns we step up and maybe this year we can lead while teaching others new dance steps. Teach me, lead me. May I have this dance?