We may have learned to sing and dance by seeing and hearing the birds and animals our companions. High mountains, gentle rains, the river flows, scorching summer, and the seasons of scarcity... were also offering some spiritual sense of life, power, beauty, care, plenitude...
Mountains are levelled today, and the heaps of waste become new mountains. if at all any greenery or river remain they are likely to become locations for resorts, tourism; a commodity to be enjoyed, not a home to live in. There is no soul in a spirituality if it has no place for the natural world and our place in it. Our spiritual vision is often constrained and framed within a number of definitions like body-lust-sin, satan-idol-commandments, atonement-ransom-redemption, traditions-piety-customs. They neither help us to open our vision beyond our limitations, nor do they enable us to relate beyond boundaries as Christ envisioned. No moral teaching can guide us to form a culture of life without knowing the tender dynamics that nature shows.
It is through the same Word that became flesh that the whole world was created and is cared and brought to the purposes of each one. It is a response to the Word itself that the human consciousness makes responsible interactions with nature. The life of the resurrection has to give new life to the structure of human consciousness. Nature was not just at the background but they were actively involved at the birth, baptism, whole of his public ministry, death and resurrection.
The wisdom of the Word that is revealed in us grows and comes to its completion with the interactions we make with the community of creatures shaped by the same wisdom of the Word. They are mutually enhancing and rising relations, they are the grace bonds to be lived in our own living environment. The wonder at seeing a blooming flower, the fragrance of woods and flowers, the melody of birds and small creatures, the shining stars ... are the early lessons of spirituality. To pat on a little flower, or an ailing wound without letting it feel pain is the inner power of the resurrection.
May our sincere sobbing that longs to grow to a new life make a growing tension to break out and rise up as we prepare to meet the risen Lord at the dawn. This inner struggle of life springing forth has to come in our vision of reality, values and our inner culture.
Do our meditations on the newness of life make us to put our efforts to give a new life to the springs that have dried up?
Are we able to learn that there is some value in this natural world that is so alive?
Can we avoid eating for enjoyment and limit it for our sustenance?
The power of the resurrection has to grow into a living internal culture. It has to function as our convictions, visions, and commitments. Gradually it might grow into a shared responsibility and a common dream, and then we will begin to see the abundance of life; the joy of the resurrection. May flowers, birds, animals, humans, rivers and forests all rise in a new life as a community of the living.
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