One morning in the garden!

Of late, I watched three to four pairs of Bulbuls in our garden coming close to our cottage for feed and frolicking.They spend a good portion of the day around the cottage. Since the Rambutan fruits are no more in the tree, they wait for food in their feeding bowl. 

During the last week, I noticed an attempt to make a nest in the nutmeg tree facing our courtyard. I am yet to see any bird activity around it. 

 

The above might even be an abandoned nest.

I find these events around our cottage interesting and engaging. A garden is a home for birds. When they choose to make nests and breed, the garden wouldl attract more birds for nesting. 

When birds find a garden hospitable, it is a shared experience between humans and avians! 

The dried leaves suspended in a strand of spider web reminded me of many other insects who inhabit the garden. 

The dragon flies and Butterflies are back in the garden, since it is dry during the day, for the last two days after a week long rainy days and nights. 

A stanza of a hymn by Henry Van Dyke, 'Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee' came to my mind at the end of the walk in the garden yesterday:

'All Thy works with joy surround thee,

Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing aroundThee,

Centre of unbroken praise. 

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Flowery meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing mountain,

Call us to rejoice in Thee'.

The world of abundance is given to us to be good stewards of it !

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The sunrise scenes!

If I have an opportunity, I like to be in our garden, in the twilight of the morning, waiting for the sunrise and the first sights of, the greenery turning  colourful and spectacular !

In just a few minutes after sunrise, the brilliant look reflecting the light from the foliage, mildly covered in the dew of the night, is all around. That array of shades of colours on the leaves, in the sunshine of the morning, is unique to the dawn of the morning. 

In the brilliance of the sunlight, later in the day, the appearance is monotonous and less striking. The golden hue of the dawn adorns the foliage into distinguishable colours. 

I find this transition time in nature as a symbol of the awakening that takes place within us when we have a flashing insight or new consciousness about a reality that remained hidden for a while. 

The sunshine is one large source of support for the flora and fauna.

Anna and I were listening to the experience of a friend, who is working out as to what might be a suitable educational environment for her children. Till then,  she has started them on home schooling!  Children need the sunshine of moral environment, formative ambience, creative exploration, interactive engagement, and upbuilding social setting.  The regular class room atmosphere is lacking this integrated view of childhood education!

Children need an awakening to sense who they are and who they are becoming! 

Every child is destined to blossom!

The enabling environment makes the buds to become flowers!

The home and school together provide that enabling environment! The parents and teachers are the formatters of childhood! They bring the sunshine of understanding and enlightenment to children's life !

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

The darkness of the mid-day

It was this sight that warned us a few days ago that the depression in the Arabian Sea was having its effect inland. There was lot of bird movements in the sky at his time unlike the usual. 

The heavy downpour that lasted an hour with wind and lightning at the middle of the day was fear generating. There was a fury in it. 

I noticed a Drongo  still perched on a slender twig high above, weathering the rain and wind. In adjacent coconut tree there was a waterbird enduring the rain. 

Many birds are weather 'resistant'!

I have been faint hearted during the last few weeks feeling the pressure to go beyond the circumstances I encounter at my work place. 

Sighting these two birds in the rain and wind brought some cheer to me.  

I remembered the words of prophet Isaiah,"Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes"(Isa.40.12)

The darkness shall pass away. Even in the darkness of the mid-day, there is hope and consolation!

M.C .Mathew(text and photo)