by Rick LoBello

One of the most meaningful moments of my life in recent years didn’t happen during the day—it happened in the quiet stillness of a desert night at Chisos Basin in Big Bend National Park.

After spending hours under a sky filled with the glowing band of the Milky Way, I finally settled into my tent. The desert was calm, and my thoughts drifted between the stars above and the natural world around me.

Sometime during the night, I was awakened—not by silence, but by sound.

A high-pitched, almost surprising call echoed through the darkness. It was the voice of an Elf Owl—the smallest owl in the world. Some say it sounds like a puppy crying, and in that moment, it was as if the desert itself was speaking.

Then came more calls… and more.

A small group of Elf Owls had gathered nearby, calling back and forth, alive with energy as they prepared for nesting season. I had known about these owls from my years working in Big Bend—people would come from all over just to hear them. But this was different. This wasn’t something I had planned. It was a gift.

They kept me awake most of the night.

And I didn’t mind one bit.

In fact, I felt grateful.

Because moments like this only happen when we step outside—when we leave behind the noise of daily life, get out of our cars, away from our homes, and simply experience nature. These are the moments that stay with us. The moments that remind us what really matters.

So many of us carry memories like this—quiet, powerful encounters with the natural world. And those memories shape us. They connect us. They inspire us.

Because when we truly cherish something…
we begin to love it.

And when we love something…
we work to protect it.

That’s what Earth Day is all about.

Wherever you are today, I hope you take a moment to step outside. Listen. Look up. Experience something wild and real.

And maybe—just maybe—you’ll have a moment of your own.

Happy Earth Day.

photos by Rick LoBello