Let nature be an inspiration to heal and protect the planet

Rev. Candace McKibben describes a Wakulla River paddle where she and her husband watched manatees and reflected on the winter shoreline, and she also reports recent road deaths of black bears that were called in to wildlife authorities.

Rev. Candace McKibben recounts an early paddle on the Wakulla River with her husband to look for manatees sheltering in a spring-fed cove. The morning fog, clear water and waving eelgrass framed a winter shoreline of bare trees and exposed roots. She notes the river’s steady flow from the spring as a local treasure and reflects on stillness, renewal and the lessons nature offers. The piece also records recent sightings of road-killed bears and the author’s response to those losses. Observations: - The author and her husband watched manatees in a spring-fed cove, noting a range of sizes and colors, and spent about an hour observing them from a canoe. - The Wakulla Springs Alliance is cited as reporting about 400 million gallons of water flow daily from the spring, which is fed by a roughly 1,300 square-mile basin. - Winter shoreline features included clear water, eelgrass under the surface, barren trees with exposed roots, and aligned cypress knees. - On Nov. 15 a black bear was seen apparently struck by a car on Shadeville Highway and was reported to Florida Fish and Wildlife; two days later a dead bear cub was found on Highway 267 and also reported, with a ranger noting multiple calls about dead cubs that morning. - The author references a church study titled "The Power of God" and a Tallahassee Symphony concert featuring Renée Fleming’s album "Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene," which explored nature as inspiration and as a victim. Summary: The author finds inspiration and hope in quiet encounters with the natural world while also noting human impacts on wildlife, as illustrated by reports of vehicle-struck bears. The piece frames nature as a teacher and calls attention to the need for human care and protection. Undetermined at this time.