Vision for the future - 2021

Statement from Rick Medrick - Director

This past year has been tumultuous, to say the least. Beginning with the threats of climate change showing its impact worldwide; an economy that waxed and waned without clarity about the future; with social equality, economic equity, and racial justice widely debated, the future was uncertain. Then came the coronavirus and the pandemic reeling its way into our sense of physical survival, along with the political competition for control of our government reaching new heights. What are we to make of all this at this moment in time?

There are things to be grateful for. The primary political crisis that has dominated our news appears resolved, at least temporarily. We have a new president and positive changes to look forward to. Vaccinations seem to be having an effect. Our families seem mostly intact despite the toll the pandemic has taken. Our need to isolate, even hibernate, has generated a heightened appreciation of the need for local communities that support one another and can come when needed. There seems hope for reining in the pandemic and its grip on human survival.

The redeeming grace for all that has happened is that we are still standing as a species: that we are not at war; that humans are still on the planet (and beyond!); that there are folks who are still practicing what they have been chosen to pursue and trained to accomplish; that there is still vision and hope that we will endure.

In short, there is a wonderful world out there and more things to discover about nature and ourselves that are truly enlightening and transforming. There are ways to experience this awakening and to see the ways in which humans and nature are guided by similar principles and subject to comparable needs and opportunities. We are all part of a larger whole or system that makes up our reality and reflects a larger cosmic whole that pervades the universe as we know it.

What this means in personal terms is that each of us has the opportunity to redefine our reality and live our truth, however diverse or seemingly in opposition or competition. It may be that we will eventually come together in more supportive and collaborative ways to cleanse our planet, sustain our humanity, and create a rich legacy for our progeny. This is an unwritten story still, though there are many initiatives under way across the planet that seek to make this world a better place for our existence.

With all this in mind, what might be a reasonable path forward? First, we must find a way for curious and open souls to engage one another in the kind of dialogue that has no agenda except to find a way for hearing what is good, true, and beautiful.

We need to listen to one another for a change…to truly hear what each of us has to say and share. This is the essence of deep listening and even deeper learning: to hear what each of us has to say and contribute to the greater whole. One place where this can take place is through shared experiences in nature and the outdoors. Time spent alone and with others outdoors can speak to our deeper selves and open pathways to the future.

Those of us who live and thrive in natural settings have gifts to offer in helping others to experience the wholeness and unity that exists in nature. Those of you willing to reach out and take such risks to connect with others in such settings—rivers, mountains, deserts, and open spaces—make an essential connection to share an intimate space where each of us can bare our souls and share in a common purpose of connection. We invite you to put your trust in those of us who can open these spaces and share this experience.

I invite you to look for these opportunities and take a chance. We offer many opportunities through OLTS (check out our website for immediate offerings) to see what might fit for you. There are courses and workshops as well as longer experiences to pursue this as a lifestyle. I also invite you to connect with one of us to explore these possibilities. We want to open these spaces for our mutual exploration.

Go forth to see what the future holds!

Rick Medrick, Ed.D.
OLTS Founder and Director
Emeritus Faculty in Sustainability Education at Prescott College