Towards inclusiveness!

Three rose flowers from three rose bushes growing up next to each other in our garden! The pinkish hue of colour differs, so also the shape and arrangement of petals. The photos were taken around the same time at day break. All three rose bushes have a history of about twenty years in our garden. They give flowers lavishly during most seasons of the year. The crisp appearance of leaves and the delicate patterns of serrations on the edge of the leaves standout. 

There are similarities and dissimilarities. They are neighbours to each other. 

I have had this thought about neighbours in my mind as Anna  makes a round in the evenings to visit all our neighbours to greet them for   Christmas and new year. 

These neighbours whom we got to know since we started to stay in our cottage 14 years ago, are people who are different from each other in many ways. In fact the dissimilarities are more obvious. Yet the fifteen families in our neighbourhood have a socially comfortable relationship with interest to help and care according to the need. 

One neighbour delivers mild every morning at our door step. Another family is our domestic support for the daily chores at home. A third family keeps a watch on our cottage when we are away for a few days. 

The children from these families are also friendly and thoughtful. One college student helps two children in the evening, who need help to do their home-work assigned by the school.  

I find lives of people interwoven in different ways in our neighbourhood. 

Are not the Palestinians and the Jews neighbours to each other while they live sharing some historic places as common! Are not people in Manipur same ethnically although one group lives in the valley and the other in the mountains! Are not people in two different political parties humans, although subscribe to two different political ideologies! In fact due to the intense disagreement between the ruling party and the opposition parties,  the winter session of the parliament did not function  on most days due to disagreement on policy, process and procedure. 

I am alarmed how the newly elected president of the United States makes many statements which disgrace the evidence based practice of health care- the latest news being to do away with immunisation!

I wonder what is source of  the origin of disruptive or defying mind set in personal and political life! 

Are we not neighbours to each other! Is not our common good intertwined with the personal wellness and neighbourhood friendliness! 

I wonder sometimes whether 'loving our neighbours' will be a reality! What about  being decent towards those who differ with us or practice another faith or hail from another ethnicity !

Each of the flowers above is distinct, unique and different, yet they together make the garden!

The season of the Christmas is the time to dwell on this theme and consider how we relate to others, because the message announced at Christmas was, peace, hope and goodwill towards all!

It is the time to be more inclusive and fraternal towards all. God shares  love with for all alike!  

M.C.Mathew ( text and photo)