Nicely Done (We Celebrate Jesse)

Once upon a time there was a little blond boy who lived among the Maasai. He grew up climbing trees, holding goats, stealing honey from bees, watching wild things in their environment, walking barefoot, identifying birds and collecting butterflies and bones (most especially skulls.) He brought his Mama frogs and toads, tarantulas and hunting spiders. He brought her tortoises and chameleons, crabs and hedgehogs. Sometimes he brought her snakes, though she was not very excited about housing snakes on the back porch.

He liked the streams, the lakes, the oceans and the sky. He noticed the mosses and the smooth stones. He picked out particularly pretty leaves and watched the clouds building over the hills. This little boy made campfires in the early morning hours when it was cold and his parents were not yet up. He chattered away in Maa as he fashioned simple wooden stools for his Maasai aunties.

This little naturalist saw good things everywhere and he pointed them out as he went along his way. How beautiful is life? How marvelous is the world? So much wonder! So much cause for joy! So many reasons to worship.



Jesse graduated with Westmont College's Class of 2009. He earned his degree in Environmental Science. He made us all beam with pride, as families are wont to do. It was a very fine weekend, complete with friends, fires, evacuations and festivities.

Jesse has a few ideas but he's not exactly sure what the new season will bring. We'll certainly enjoy watching the adventure unfold :-)