Grateful for the Tenacity of Nature

Photo taken on the Kilauea Iki Crater Trail

Day 11: Thirty Days of Gratitude for Our Earth

I am wowed by the tenacity of nature and it's ability to survive and thrive even in harsh and inhospitable environments.

The image above was taken during a walk through a volcanic crater. It felt as if we were walking on the surface of another planet. The black lava beneath our feet was formed in 1959 when an eruption created a lake of molten lava. As we walked on this uneven surface, we were surrounded by steam vents, cracks in the ground, and giant slabs of lava. Every once in awhile we came upon a display of plant life peeking through the cracks.

There is clearly a desire and strength for nature to survive. When you walk down a street or on a sidewalk, notice the growth that can be seen as it emerges through the cracks in the pavement.

When I visited Yellowstone National Park years ago, I marveled at the the lush new growth that was taking hold on the burned ground of a massive forest fire just 6 years earlier. Nature adapts to changing environments and seems to be programmed to survive.

It really is amazing to watch as new growth fights it's way back.