Working together to protect nature

It was encouraging to see in the March 27 article, "More land sought for Alpine Lakes Wilderness," [NW Friday] that Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Dave Reichert were able to set aside their differences and work together in order to protect wilderness lands and to ensure that future generations will have available to them these wonders of the natural world.

As our cities swell and our connection to the rest of creation becomes more distant, ensuring protections for wilderness becomes increasingly relevant and urgent. These wild places offer the abundant natural space necessary for adventure and for spiritual renewal.

The free-flowing rivers and wild forests within the Alpine Lakes Proposal display the astonishing diversity and interconnectedness of God's creation. Through my work at Earth Ministry, I have witnessed that in order to respond to the many difficult challenges we face, it is imperative to work through our differences and build meaningful partnerships.

I thank Sen. Murray and Rep. Reichert for providing an example of how effective partnerships can help to create balanced, meaningful protections.

-- Beth Anderson, Seattle