I was particularly happy this year as September 1st dawned and the Season of Creation took off.* Being part of many initiatives related to ecology and Earth Rights, I was drawn by a sense of joyful longing and started planning activities around the event. What was not planned, however, was the two-minute silence and reverential attention that I led my catechism boys into as we waited in the corridor to get to our classroom from the previous class. It was the first time in so many years they had paused to look at the lovely green area around them. I was glad I could lead them into it.
My joy was short-lived because by evening, the continuous rains in Delhi-NCR had caused an upheaval. News from surrounding cities about the loss of crops and destruction that farmers were facing hit me. The fury of nature was on full display in my neighbourhood and in my country at large, too. Landslides and floods, loss of lives, loss of homes, waterlogging, chaos, and whatnot! I started ruminating on the fact that, truly, nature is unpredictable and has the dual side of being a force of destruction, death, and damage alongside beauty, glory, and life. I also felt with a bang that all we are witnessing is the consequence of our actions and the way we have ourselves spoiled and plundered our Earth to make it into an unruly force. Now we are not in sync with the rhythms of our biosphere and land and water. And this is because we failed to respect the greatness and giftedness of Creation. We will have to pay the price of this failure - and all of us will have to suffer. We will crib but are are we justified?
I guess the path could be accepting the invitation extended to us by this Season of Creation - awareness, reverence, careful consumption, prayer, and just actions to protect and work for renewal of this beautiful planet that is our home and mother. I will try and I hope this has a ripple effect on at least those I know.
