Dr. Ian McCallum closed his presentation with this poignant poem - his poem - Thursday night at the Rotary Club of Signal Hill. My scholarship host counselors, Mr. Mike and Mrs. Eve Saxby, encouraged me to attend this particular meeting because of the guest speaker, as they knew he would deliver a riveting presentation. My goodness, were they right.
McCallum has built quite the living legacy, as is evidenced by his curriculum vitae. Once a rugby Springbok and co-captain, McCallum is a medical doctor, analytical psychologist, psychiatrist, published author and poet, and director of the Wild Leaders leadership development project of the Wilderness Foundation. His Thursday night presentation, which spotlighted his trek across southern Africa, included stunning photography, fantastic storytelling, and inspiring philosophies. Within the first five minutes of the presentation, I was thankful my path had crossed his.
 |
| Ian McCallum http://tracksofgiants.org/key-people-partners |
Though it seems McCallum could have filled days with his stories, experiences, and ponderings, our hour of his time was focused on an expedition he concluded not long ago: Tracks of Giants. The project, which aimed to "raise awareness of conservation, human community and leadership issues relevant to southern Africa" involved a five-month west to east journey following ancient African elephant tracks. According to the Track of Giants website, "the journey (aimed) to rekindle the rapidly declining indigenous knowledge base of the human-animal interface, and indigenous solutions to conservation challenges and issues."
 |
| Map of the Tracks of Giants route http://tracksofgiants.org/in-the-tracks-of-giants |
You cannot understand the magnitude of McCallum's journey without hearing him tell his own story. Though I have no expertise in conservation and little experience wrestling with environmentalism, I was moved by McCallum's passion for the fibers of our Earth: humans, animals, elements, ideas. Listen to his recitation of another poem he wrote about being in the presence of the elephants: "In the Tracks of Giants"
One of the most stunning things about Africa (at least the small corner of it that I have experienced so far) is its kinship with raw nature. Having grown up in the United States, I have always remained as isolated and separated from nature as I have wished to be. Sure, a quick escape to our perch on the lake or Mammoth Cave National Park quickly reacquainted me with the elements of nature, but here there is more integration than isolation.
McCallum's presentation moved me. No, I can't say that it will keep me from cursing the lingering dust or swirling winds or pesky insects or powerful animals of South Africa, but it will cause me to hesitate before doing so. I was inspired by the aesthetic beauty McCallum shared and the stories of humanity he told. And I do wish everyone had the chance to be surrounded by forces of nature as great as sunrises over the mountains and sunsets over the ocean. Or visionaries like McCallum.
McCallum's presentation moved me. No, I can't say that it will keep me from cursing the lingering dust or swirling winds or pesky insects or powerful animals of South Africa, but it will cause me to hesitate before doing so. I was inspired by the aesthetic beauty McCallum shared and the stories of humanity he told. And I do wish everyone had the chance to be surrounded by forces of nature as great as sunrises over the mountains and sunsets over the ocean. Or visionaries like McCallum.
 |
| Photos from http://tracksofgiants.org/ |
"We have to stop speaking about the Earth being in need of healing. The Earth doesn't need healing. We do. It is our task to rediscover ourselves in Nature. It is an individual choice. We either continue to believe that someone or something else will rescue us, show us the easy way, or even take the hard path on our behalf, or we choose the opposite -- we take it upon ourselves. We take the hard path, each one of us in our own way and we do it gladly. And where does that path begin? It begins exactly where we are right now, when we look up at the world as a mirror, when we discover that our sense of freedom and authenticity is linked to the well being and authenticity of others - including the animals, trees and the land." Ian McCallum / Source: http://ian-mccallum.co.za/
Want to know more about Tracks of Giants? Check out these links:
- Magazine Spread: In the Tracks of Giants
- Video: Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa
- Video: The Ending & Beginning
- National Geographic GeoStory
No comments:
Post a Comment