nnn

Planet Jackson Hole, July 4 - 10, 2003, Volume 1, No. 29

Does Independence Mean A Deeper Commitment?

In the most beautiful setting, with the Grand Teton in the background, family and friends gathered together to witness the exchange of wedding vows. It was a perfect Jackson wedding day as many residents were present to celebrate the event.
It is very emotional to hear people accepting vows. It brings back memories and reinforces commitment. The harmony that took place was very impressive, a harmony between family, friends, community and nature. It's nice to see people taking the time to sit at an event and witness the love and the commitment of two people. Many hands in the crowd reached out to hold other hands, while others were lifted up to wipe tears of joyful feeling.

Well so what? Every day there is a wedding out there. For me it was more than just a wedding -- it was a commitment of love, a commitment to family, to friendship and to community. It was a reinforcement of family ties that also strengthened the foundational bond between neighbors, friends and nature. It was an issue of loyalty and trust; loyalty to nature and trust in Jackson's weather, only to be symbolized by two dogs who carried the wedding rings to the waiting couple.

What really matters in life are the small things, those moments that we treasure. These are the moments where we live with courage, purity, integrity and honesty. These times are experienced with an open loving heart, when our hands can touch other hands with warmth, when our emotions flow with heart-felt tears and laughter. It is these precious times when you close your eyes with thanks, like when your dog runs towards you wagging its tail, your cat rubs its head against your leg, when you're smelling a flower or hugging a friend.

Let's live day-by-day, moment-by-moment and treasure what we have. We are fortunate to be living in such a beautiful valley. Many of us made an abundance of sacrifices to be here, and some of us could live anywhere else and make a better living. Nevertheless we still choose to live in Jackson Hole and take the good with the bad, with pride and grace as it comes.

I tip my hat to the parents who work two jobs to put food on the table, send their kids to school, and make ends meet.

I tip my hat to our grown children who return to settle down, with struggles and determination to build a future in this valley.

I tip my hat to the young graduate who chooses to be a part of this place and is willing to do what it takes to live here and enjoy the outdoors.

I tip my hat to the rich and experienced who are here, not to show off and display their power and wealth, but rather to reach out, volunteer, get involved and become part of us.

I tip my hat to the businessmen and women who serve with integrity, respect our environment, and have strong commitment to and involvement in our community.

I tip my hat to many professionals who see this place as a community of neighbors and friends rather than just a place to make a living.

I tip my hat to the developers and the real estate folks who can stand back and honor this place with respect for the spirit of mankind, wildlife, and nature.

I tip my hat to the environmentalists who work sincerely with deep commitment to nature on one hand, and respect, love, tolerance and understanding of the families who have to make a living on the other hand.

I tip my hat to the old timers, the ranchers whose love for this valley has brought them here before all the amenities. They made their bond of love with the land in spite of their struggle with the hard elements, and before money and greed were a part of our daily life. They set the example for preserving the land, working in harmony, and for making a living with the slightest impact on the environment and their fellow man.

Whether it is a wedding, a Forth of July celebration, a prayer in a church, or a meditation on top of a mountain, they are all a form of the renewal of our love and commitment to our family, friends and Creator.

As our fathers wrote, "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

True independence should not be measured by person's accomplishments. A man and woman will know when they have reached true independence if they live their life devoted to what really matters. Let's declare every day a special day to honor our commitment to our community, our love to our friends and neighbors, and to our fragile environment. It's time to turn around, step forward, and make a commitment that's worth living for. Happy Independence Day!

Jim Darwiche