Nature Day #5: Fort Worth Nature Center Day 2


Nature Journal #5: 2nd day at Fort Worth Nature Center

October 3, 2023

    Life is always full of surprises. I honestly expected repetition and somewhat of a monotonous experience comparing today to last week’s trip to the Nature Center. Of course, I knew it would be impactful and a unique experience, I just could never have predicted the day we had. I was prepared for similar work with privet and bamboo; however, little did I know, the use of the wood chipper would look a little different today. I thought we would continue making progress and moving wood, however, the progress that was made was not what we expected as a class. It is an encouraging though to see how we were able to adapt to the challenges presented and still help out in some capacity. Cutting and sawing were definitely not what we expected to be doing today, but if it was a form of service for them, then I think most of us were happy to help. 

    The first surprise of the day came when the chipper stopped worked either because of a technical difficulty or because of the empty gas canister. Regardless, we switched gears to continue helping by cutting down branches and creating piles to discard of next week and the in weeks to come. Once again, we came in with different expectations but had to adjust to the realities of the day.

    The second, much more impactful, surprise came later when we thought the day had come to a close. I guess this is why you should always keep your eyes open and your ears alert. As we headed back to our cars, the chipper broke down a tree, and unfortunately, I got some of the brunt of the blow. It really does prove to me that when God and nature have other plans for the day, His plans will reign. I am feeling some of the effects of this accident, and although it is inconvenient to my everyday activities and busyness, I am also able to notice that my body needs to slow down. So, if for nothing else, I learned that the hurriedness of life sometimes can be overtaken by other more pressing experiences. As much as we want to control the outcomes of our experiences, work, activities etc., we cannot control what the future holds. 

    Lastly, this can most definitely be a learning opportunity for everyone. This experience raises some questions about our safety and the trust we place in the Nature Center workers. I think we all did a nice job of protecting ourselves in the tree accident; however, it is another topic to discuss of how that happened in the first place. This connected with policies the center has in place for injuries are all things I never expected to learn or want to learn about regarding Fort Worth Nature Center. Overall, I am having an experience I could not have predicted, but I am also grateful for this unique course and learning opportunity.




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