They have a story to tell through their silent presence. They through the blooming reveal the care, attention and nurture offered by the gardener who faithfully crafted its growth process. They are also a tribute to the nurturing soil where they are rooted.
As I watched them in different places in our garden, they symbolised to me the human life on earth!
The recent escalation of violence leading to war between nations is the pathway for destruction and devastation! The sweat and toil of generations of families which erected symbols of human habitation and tilled the ground to produce food seem to be trivialised by the short sightedness of the leaders of global power. Do they seek destroying the fruits of human labour by a whimsical view of global affairs! One country seems to acquire the role of a global police patrol deciding the nature and destiny of other sovereign countries! The president of that country seems to by-pass the approval for war from the senate, which is the ultimate decision maker in such times in that country.
The premier of another country advocating war and destruction represents a community who lost five millions of its countrymen during the second word war due to racial genocide.
Another fragile nation still under attack by another neighbouring country seems to have offered to join the war to protect Europe! A nation under siege speaks of an aggressive approach, an indication of the instinct of aggression instead of pursuit of peace!
What disturbed many of us in India, was the silence of the government of India when Iran was attacked and its supreme leader killed by a deliberate act, although Iran was a friendly ally of India for decades. It was five days after the incident, the foreign minister of India sent message of sympathy from what I pick up from the news papers.
Have we lost the mantle of pursuit of life on earth? Is not the world a place to allow diverse ideologies and traditions! Is it not through dialogue, consultation and persuasion we cause change! Is violence, force and imposition of might of military power befitting democratic norms and universal co-existence?
I feel deeply shaken to know that soem countries perpetuate hatred of other nations and some sovereign leaders are hate protagonists. Even this can only be overcome by engagement, conversation and negotiation! Why has the United Nations Organisation become so silent that it announces its redundancy at such a time when its strength of negotiation ought our have been decide to avert this global crisis. Has it lost its feeling soul of the misery of people in the war zones!
Do we have only a 'veneer of civilisation' as an insular superficial layer as Robert Bregman refers to it in his book, Human Kind ! Quoting, Gustave Le Bon, a French scholar, Bregman suggests that 'man descends several rungs in the ladder of civilisation' (p xiii and xiv). 'Panic and violence erupt and we humans reveal our nature'!
The new realism that Bregman refers to is, 'That most people, deep down, are pretty descent' (p2).
If so, what we see in the attitude of leadership of some of the 'dominant' countries' is an exception and departure from the norm.
Where is the voice in favour of life on earth at such difficult times? While listening to the discussion in the House of Commons in Britain, I was reminded of the sensible reference of Bregman that most people are decent. I heard in the debate, voice of reason, caution, alarm and plea against war and aggression and a sense of anguish about loss of lives and property.
The flowers above represent to me all that is virtuous about human life on earth!
I feel that the current war is against the epitome of virtue and not against evil! Who leads this league of nations into war! It is the president of a country who withdrew from all global humanitarian partnerships as soon he was elected to the office. He even abolished the need for compulsory state funded immunisation of children to protect children from infectious diseases. He introduced tariffs on trade transactions to harm other countries and for solitary gain of his country!
I return to the flowers. They are fragile and yet they stay alive and colourful in spite of the heat and humidity of the day!
The flowers are resilient during their life time. Yet they fulfil their mission of presence!
It is to this bright prospect I return to pursue my thoughts! I feel challenged by the hymn about lighting a candle:
" There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes his home.
So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, confused and torn
Hold our your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go to light your world
Take your candle and go to light your world.
So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world..."
( A song by Chris Rice popularised by Kathy Troccoli 1995).
We currently live in the interface of war and peace, wondering when would peace be the language of the heart of those who advocate war and violence!
I heard about a devout person going to light a candle in the foyer of a busy mall, to announce his call for peace by singing the above candle song!
That song resonates within me and gives me hope to look beyond the global turmoil.
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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