Nathania Gartman

Lessons from the Canyon

By Michael Kaufmann

North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA)

Walking was already becoming difficult for Nathania, but she wanted to guide us up the hill to the underground lake, across the creek in Angel Canyon.  Once at the entrance to the cave we paused, and then proceeded into the cool darkness to where the clear, still water rested.

The evening before, we had completed a three-day workshop titled "Getting your Message Out", for a group of humane educators and college students. The purpose was to help each of us discover our own unique voice - to hone teaching and writing skills and to consider different approaches in humane education. As always, much of the workshop took place in the animal areas of the sanctuary, where rabbits, dogs and horses were included in the workshop as teachers in their own right.

Six weeks later, Nathania Gartman passed away on the morning of America's Independence Day. What timing! I can almost hear her high-pitched laugh at this final bit of mischief.  The Nathania I knew was all about independence - a determined woman who created an unusual life that was dedicated to service to others.

She appeared as an unassuming but potent presence at national and regional conferences. Her voice was one of conviction tempered by patience, reason, and wit. She was a master bridge builder between people with often opposing philosophies.

There was always a little mystery about Nathania. There were veils, hinting at painful memories, difficult times, and challenges. But she had a deep faith rooted in her southern heritage, and her faith was at the core of who she was. 

Nathania loved animals - but not in some fluffy, gooey way. She respected them as individuals with a destiny all their own. In her eyes a dog should be allowed to live like a dog.  The human side of the relationship had to be in balance with that of the animal.  In her accepting eyes, both people and animals were perfect in their imperfection.

But I saw, at that last meeting, how she loved this canyon, and all the people and animals that came here.  She breathed the air and watched the Golden Eagle fly to the sun. And her songs echoed on the canyon walls.

She knew that people could be small, that life could be hard, and that it wasn't meant to be easy. But more than anything, Nathania intuitively felt her connection to the goodness in the universe and found her destiny as a teacher, mentor and friend. She did what she came here to do.

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