Someone mentioned to me that I weave different stories from the Lilies in our garden in this blog post. It is because they bring different messages each time I stay receiving their greeting with gentle sway in the breeze ! The fact that the hollow thin rimmed stalk which carries the flowers does not break away even in a strong wind, continues to surprise me and engage me to know more about the messages they carry through their presence in the garden.
This time it was the way the flowers open in all directions. It symbolises openness ! It is opposite to the way one sided opinions are imposed on others who are in the political hierarchy. The ongoing war in Iran, Ukraine, Israel and the street protests in Italy, France, Switzerland, India and few other countries show the ugly side of pursuing one sided view of political ideologies or trade ideologies or social values.
The Lilies open in different directions suggesting, that they become open towards all around them!
The biography of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Belonging, A journey of love is due for its release today. Based on the preview of the book, comments are coming in from followers of a particular ideology belittling her as a woman with an 'Italian' mindset!
This worries me as this form of prejudice is what restricts us from being open, liberal and generous towards others. How small we can become when, we see others through our narrow beliefs and orientation!
The right and left side in our body are similar but dis-similar in functions and neurological orientation!
The Lilies above send a strong message, appealing to us, to be open, generous, gracious and tolerant! That is the core value of humanity and human relationships.
It took a long time for me to choose openness as the way of all relationships. During my-mid life, as I look back, I realise how some conflicts could have been avoided or minimised, if I was more open, patient and negotiating in approach!
Our opinions matter but regardful attitudes towards others matter even more, even when we have an opinion different from theirs on some matters!
I spotted a few birds in the garden today. The birds would have moved away to safer places due to lightning and thundering with heavy rains in the afternoons during the last ten days
Even our feeding station remained deserted for a week now!
May be, the arrival of birds would bring new thoughts and different insights!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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