Ageing and transition !

 

I took time to look for early indications of ageing in flowers in our garden!

The first rose flower with a bud looks brilliant and elegant, whereas, one flower of the two, in the second photo, has a difference in the tinge of its colour and appearance. A close and careful inspection showed that the one flower in the three o'clock position showed early signs of ageing.

The first photo of a single lily with a bud looks fresh and is yet to be fully open. Whereas the second photo of the lily, where two flowers are open, the petals of the flower on the left showed change in the colour. The colour of the petals in the photo of a single lily and the flower, in the right of the second photo,  looked similar, suggesting that they were young flowers. 

The flowers also show ageing signs. 

One political party made a major change in its leadership in the state of Kerala. The president of the state and the three working presidents who took charge yesterday, are people in the fifties or younger, replacing the earlier leadership who were in the late sixties or early seventies. 

This decision to have younger people to lead, where the average age of membership of the  party is in the forties made good sense. The youngest of the working presidents in response to the felicitation said,  'it is a responsibility and not just an honour'! That revealed the message, that he carries in his heart about his role!

The elections in Australia and Canada  chose  prime ministers who too spoke of 'responsibility' at a difficult season, when some nations of the world are in a melting pot. The election in Germany did not give a convincing majority to any one party. It was through a recount the current chancellor was chosen. 

The presidents of the USA, Russia, and the prime minister of Israel are older people, from whom we would have expected more wise choices and directions for global affairs. But we find them 'self absorbed'. Is it not a sign of ageing! The colour and tone of their decisions have features of 'self absorption'. The Russian president during this week paraded its military power to celebrate the 'victory day'! 

How terrible it is to show the military arsenal on such an occasion, where the weapons symbolise destruction! Is that the symbol or optic of a nation! It is a vain display of power-a distortion of vision of a nation. Yet another indication of self absorption to show forth power, contrary to embracing a symbol of responsibility to serve !

It is worth watching to see how many leaders of nations, would choose a symbol that represents service and welfare for all, as their mission and vocation!

In the choice of the Pope of the Catholic Church yesterday, it is shown how the cardinals prayerfully committed the leadership of the church to one in his sixties, who is known to carry the vocation of serving as his way of life! Pope Leo's life was formed by his years in Peru, where he lived among people, who had no food to cook till they could buy grain from the small wages of the day!  

The ageing ought to turn us to the role of becoming elders, who would enable younger people to serve and make a difference as suggested by John Eldredge in his book, 'Fatherhood of God' .

The leader of the opposition in India, Mr Rahul Gandhi, while visiting a young widow, who lost her husband recently in an accident, surprised her. Mr Gandhi seems to have said, ' I have come because I feel heavy while thinking of your loss'!

I wish the leadership under whom we live and work, will convey a feeling heart towards people, who live their reduced lives!

 M.C.Mathew (text and photo)