When I was a boy, my father had a saying whenever we went camping: "Always leave things better than you found them." Whenever he quoted this pearl of wisdom we knew we were going to be cleaning up the campsite before the fun started. Cigarette butts, pop-tops, candy wrappers, there was always a few things littered about. So we took three minutes out of our day, picked things up and dropped them in the trash. It was and is still part of our family's camping tradition. Thanks Dad. Though, I remember feeling insulted. The nerve of others leaving their garbage for us to pick up.
Last week, our family went to Mountwood Lake for a picnic, hiking and fishing. Stepping from the car, the utter display of disgrace and waste shocked me. Walking around the lake, we found less than a 20-foot span that wasn't strewn with garbage, rotting bait and even dirty diapers. This disaster was clearly the act of not just a few, but dozens of offensive, lazy souls whose amusement seemed to be grounded more in the damage they could do than in appreciating the beauty of God's creation.
Why would so many care so little? Where did all this godless apathy exude from in such a short time in our history? What happened to West Virginia honor? We're Americans. We don't trash our nation like the scavenging hordes of some third-world countries. And if you're one of those corrupt souls who thinks defiling nature is cool or funny or your right, think again; and if you are one of those cowards who stands idly by watching while your friends or family desecrate the Lord's work.
Remember, God sees all things and He will judge all for their deeds - good and evil. - Wake up, all goodhearted West Virginians. Americans. Step up. Forge forward and push these contaminated spirits back into the pit from whence they came. Or better yet, have the guts to save them. Teach them the errors of the ways before the Lord has to do it for you, so they too can stand for the courage, duty and honor that made this land the greatest nation under God for 236 years.
Finally, Mountwood Park volunteers deserve better for their hard work than this betrayal of all things good and beautiful. Shameless.
William Taylor
Parkersburg
