At day break, I took a walk in the garden to visit the flowering plants with flowers!
The heavy rain in the last three days were hostile to them. Yet these flowers, although carried a water soaked appearance of the petals except the last flower, appeared vibrant making them colourful in the morning sun!
Every time I trim the garden or cut the grass in the lawn, I get reminded of their resilience to grow in the hostile setting of rain, limited sunlight and high humidity!
Life thrives amidst adversities.
Rev. Peter Miller a Scottish Presbyter whom we knew in 1987 in Chennai, left to be a chaplain at the Iona Community and has been since then there. He lost his wife following a sudden illness. He himself had to fight cancer. In the midst of diverse experiences of stress and strain, he continues to send out a monthly meditative letter, A candle in the window. The letter testifies to the abiding experience of God, he encounters in his daily life. Although our meeting with him was about fifteen years ago, and he has aged since then, He communicates a message of hope abundant! His ageing and illness do not drag him not be self-absorbed, in fact enlivens him to be most effective and communicative.
I find a similar attitude in a widow, who was struggling to look after herself and her only son amidst drought and famine, about which we read in the in the Old Testament book of the Bible in Elijah chapter 17. The prophet Elijah requested from the widow some water and bread, when she was gathering sticks to cook her last meal as the flour and oil had exhausted. When she provided that, Elijah blessed her with a promise :' The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted nor shall the jar of oil be empty until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth' (v14). The widow provided the meal to Elijah following which 'she and her household ate for many days'!
A widow at a such time of helplessness , expressed her generosity and hospitality to an unknown person.
This to me is another illustration of fortitude-courage in pain and adversity, beyond the natural strength!
Two stanzas in the Hymn, 'God has set us free for freedom' comes to my mind:
"Ties of kindred are our bondage,
We the members, He the head.
God has made us in His image;
Love has made us free indeed.
God unties our hands for loving,
Man or woman, children, friends.
Caring for the other's wholeness;
Love is kind and understands".
The fragile jasmine flowers above, in our garden look brilliant and spread fragrance even during heavy rain!
That is the way to be present by giving what is possible in adversity!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
No comments:
Post a Comment