This is not about Inspirational music, but it is about inspirational film- making.  I’m up to viewing Part 5 of a 5 part series of films by documentarian Ken Burns called The National Parks – America’s Best Idea. I wish the series could go on and on.

Let’s take a turn from inspirational music for a moment and discuss America.  If you consider yourself an American then you need to take part in America – to pay your taxes, to vote for its leadership, to embody its freedoms and to respect the freedoms of others.

You must also know its history to take part effectively in its future.  The National Parks – America’s Best Idea is as great a history lesson on America The Beautiful as I can imagine.  Rent it, buy it, but watch it.  It’s fascinating and oh so well done.

“I often wonder what man will do with the mountains.  Will he cut down all the trees to make ships and houses?  If so, what will be the final and far upshot?  Will a better civilization come in accord with obvious nature?  And all this wild beauty to be set to human poetry and song?  What is the human part of the mountain’s destiny? – John Muir, mountain prophet

John Muir has become my new American hero.  If you take the time to watch these inspiring films, he will become your hero as well – guaranteed.

The history of the development of the National Parks system in America is full of beauty, drama and light – therefore inspiration.  Ken Burns has again captured it all in living color and historic black and white.

Joining John Muir on the role of heros are also great Americans like Stephen Mather and Horace Albright, Teddy Roosevelt and Enos Mills who all play a huge parts in saving the beauteous wonders of our great land.  To them we owe endless homage.

Watching these films has had a dramatic impact on my life.  Before I leave the planet I must take a summer off and go visit the beauty of America through our National Parks system.  It has become a life goal through the watching of these documentaries.  It has also dramatically changed my thought to care less about short-term gain and instead care more for long term vistas.

In the words of new hero Stephen Mather in his moment of triumph establishing Grand Canyon National Park, “Now I want you to know that our job is not over.  It is just beginning.  Remember that God has given us these beautiful lands, but none of them will mean anything unless we have a safe haven for these wilderness places.”  These ‘vast schoolrooms of Americanism’ are out there waiting to be explored, appreciated, loved and experienced.

After watching these films, I’m not going to miss the great opportunity.

For more inspirational music, thoughts and ideas from Peter Link,
please visit Watchfire Music.