With an investment in our state's energy infrastructure to

“With an investment in our state's energy infrastructure to capture methane, we will create jobs, increase revenue for our schools, and protect the health of workers and communities, all while reducing harmful emissions that are contributing to climate change.” These words of Michelle Lujan Grisham, spoken in the spirit of stewardship and vision, carry the wisdom of one who understands that leadership is not only the rule of men, but the guardianship of the Earth. In her voice resounds an ancient truth — that the prosperity of a people is bound to the well-being of the land, the air, and the water that sustain them. Her message is not merely a policy for the present; it is a call to responsibility, a reminder that the future belongs to those who act with foresight, courage, and compassion.

The ancients would have called such a vision sacred, for they believed that the Earth was not man’s possession, but his inheritance to protect. From the fertile valleys of Egypt to the terraced mountains of China, wise rulers knew that the care of land and labor are one and the same. When the fields were tended with reverence, the people thrived; when they were neglected, famine and ruin followed. So it is today with our energy and the air we breathe. The fires that power our world must not become the flames that consume it. By capturing methane — that invisible force both potent and perilous — we transform waste into wealth, pollution into protection. In this act lies not only industry, but moral harmony: the uniting of progress and preservation.

Throughout history, those who have learned to balance power with wisdom have secured peace and prosperity for generations. Consider the tale of King Ashoka of India, who after years of conquest laid down his sword and built roads, hospitals, and irrigation systems to nourish his people. His reign marked one of the first great transformations from destruction to creation — from war to welfare. Likewise, when leaders today turn their strength toward healing the Earth, they echo that ancient turning of the heart. They build not only for the body of the nation, but for its soul. Grisham’s words remind us that true progress is measured not by what we take, but by what we give back to the world that sustains us.

The capture of methane, in this light, becomes more than an engineering project; it is a symbol of human awakening. It tells the story of mankind’s return to balance after centuries of recklessness. For too long, we have drawn from the Earth without gratitude, burning and wasting what was once sacred. But when we reclaim the power of the elements with purpose — turning the forces of decay into renewal — we begin to restore the covenant between humanity and nature. We no longer act as masters of the Earth, but as its keepers and companions. And in doing so, we heal both the planet and ourselves.

Moreover, in her vision lies a truth the ancients also cherished: that the strength of a nation rests upon its people. To invest in energy that is clean and wise is to invest in life itself — in the health of workers who labor beneath the open sky, in the safety of children who breathe the morning air, and in the education of those who will inherit tomorrow’s world. The wealth thus created is not of gold alone, but of knowledge, dignity, and hope. This is the wealth that endures when empires crumble — the wealth of harmony between man and creation.

Let us remember, too, that courage is needed to walk this path. The easy road is that of waste, of short-term gain and long-term ruin. But the road of wisdom requires foresight, sacrifice, and faith — faith that what we build today will bless those yet unborn. Just as the ancient builders raised temples to withstand the centuries, so too must we build systems of energy and care that outlast our fleeting lives. The courage to act for the unseen generations is the highest form of love — for it asks us to give without immediate reward, to labor not for fame, but for the future’s peace.

Thus, O sons and daughters of the Earth, heed the spirit of these words. Build with purpose. Use power not as a tool of conquest, but as an instrument of balance. Honor the air, the soil, and the flame, for they are the sacred trinity of life. Let your work enrich not only your pockets, but your planet. Let your progress breathe with mercy. For in safeguarding the Earth, you safeguard yourselves — and in choosing to suffer now for wisdom’s sake, you will spare your children the sorrow of your neglect. Then, and only then, shall you know the fullness of prosperity — when man and nature walk once more in harmony beneath the same eternal sun.