Buds, Flowers and Fruits !

I was fascinated yesterday by watching how the garden keeps its orderly rhythm adapting to different seasons of the year. 

It was when the Greater Coucal arrived at the blossoming tree, I realised that it came looking for caterpillar for its morning feed! A garden feeds the birds, and reptiles. 

The ecosystem surrounding flowering plants consist of bees, insects and sunbirds. 

The soil sustains the garden and garden feeds and provides. The Kitchen garden is our source of many vegetables for our meals. 

The garden is also the flight station for birds for their respite, during flight or while making a habitual stop. This King fisher is regular at this palm tree, when there is running water in the stream, waiting to spot movement of fish in the water. 

I felt enthused by these multiple sights while walking in the garden because the garden sustain life to flourish. It freely gives and nourishes. 

When the United States of America militarily abducted the Venezuela president and his wife yesterday, its eye is on its fossil oil, which according to America was explored for commercial use by American companies. The language of entitlement, aggression and domination is contrary to the language a garden offers with openness towards all and equal distribution of its resources for all. 

The last one hundred years offered a direction towards democracy, equality, fraternity and civility in human relationships and governance. Now the three polarised nations who seem to drift towards authoritarianism and dictatorial tendency are Russia, China and USA. A fourth country where  the departure in that direction is palpable is India. Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan are countries in a boil.   Russia is an invader with continuation of war in Ukraine for over a year; China is now eyeing to take observer Taiwan and the USA is threatening to follow similar path towards Greenland, Venezuela, and Nigeria. Israel's behaviour towards Palestinians for two years now, defies every norm of consideration towards neighbourhood.  

The earth belongs to the people who inhabit it globally. The nations are sovereign, formed for interdependent living! That relational dimension helped internationally to foster human belonging!

Now the value system is replaced by authority, control and domination because of wealth and economic power. 

While at a mobile phone show room yesterday in a multi-market chain store, I gathered that, its chain of shops are taken over by a big chain store company, which has its foot hold nationally. The three multi- markets in the town since this take over feel the impact with fall in their customers. 

I want to think that wealth creation and economic prosperity at the cost of others indicate a trend towards feudal mind set contrary to the democratic values!  that The honourable ethos of nations, that means ought to justify the end stands breached!

The enormous destruction of the Palestinian territory imposed by prolonged war by Israel on Gaza left it devastated with its gardens, farms, homes, schools, hospitals and public transport disappearing. It looks like that pain and hurts of others do not awaken the conscience.  In the story of the Good Samaritan in the New Testament of the Bible spoken by Jesus of Nazareth had two characters, a priest and a Levite, who passed by an injured man waylaid by robbers.   

I wish there will be an international pressure on all the nations who need a corrective path to restore freedom and fraternity in nations currently in distress!

The giving and feeding garden on one side and on the other side, some nations taking what belong to others by might, force or aggression!

I wish, that the year 2026 will be a year, which would bring conciliation to conflicts and cordiality between nations!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)