When the legal battle with the City of Palm Bay was over, I began giving workshops on religious rights at festivals around the country. One day, I heard about Julia Butterfly. Julia "Butterfly" Hill, an environmental activist, lived on top of a 200 foot redwood tree for two years to prevent a lumber company from sawing it down. Not only did she have the guts and dedication to attempt the feat, she had the commitment to stick it out. I was so moved by her dedication to her cause, that I wrote the following poem to express commitment…and the price one pays for that commitment. I use this poem to try to inspire my audience to first be careful of what they choose to do if they should find themselves in a battle for their religious rights. But when they decide, then they need the will to commit themselves to their goal to the end. Julia won, the tree was saved along with others around it.

Perhaps someday, in a significant way, you may find you have to choose,
To take the choice that's given you, or risk much more to lose,
What does it mean to make a vow that captures every thought,
And steals each moment for itself and leaves you so distraught?

Julia Butterfly made her choice, she chose to sit in a tree
She made her vow to a redwood and to its long history
She stayed to keep the axes still,
fueled by her personal righteous will.

But in the shadow stood a man,
a sharpened ax in his hand,
When all were snuggled tight in bed,
she huddled in her tree.

Commitment may ultimately mean
living in a quarantine,
Loosing those who cannot forget
the fact that you did what you did,
You took a stand and heaven forbid!
That's got to be embarrassing!

But somewhere two lovers kiss and dream beside a rolling sea,
And somewhere a baby breathes a gasp, and struggles to just be.
But from the darkness of the night, comes that truth in dawning light.
When all is said and done again, no butterflies are free…