by Sr. Liana de Jesus MMM                                               Brazil/USA                              17.11.2024

Life is rooted in nature – always in the process of growth.

Our life is like a plant, the relationship is very similar.  When a plant is a seed, it needs someone to water it until it grows and becomes strong. When a baby is born, he/she needs someone to care for him/her until it grows.  As human beings, we are like a plant which needs all loving care.  God has given us the freedom to choose what type of plant we want to be in in order to flourish in life.

Do we want to be like a beautiful flower that needs to be cared for our whole life?  Do we want to have someone always giving us water, and food and putting us in the sun’s direction?  As human people, we need to develop our deep senses of humility and acceptance that we do need each other and should be the source for others to grow as well.  One only can be strong like the trees in the forest because they have other trees, to give support when the wind is strong, otherwise they could easily fall.  The tree by itself looks for what it needs to grow strong. When growing between the stones, it looks for the spaces that it needs to survive.  For the roots to grow deeper it needs water and for the trunk to grow tall it needs to move in the direction of the sun.

Again, like nature, which takes responsibility for the tree’s growth, we too are responsible for our lives and health to grow and to flourish.  It does not matter what type of tree you may become a bamboo tree or a mango tree; even if you have a thunderstorm the tree continues to grow strong as it cared for.  In our lives, we may need to develop our connection with nature and become aware that we need to believe that God is in control and will never let us down.  Our roots are deep, and we will be able to accept the thunder in our lives and will be ready when the time of death comes.

Every person in life has their process and purpose for being born, the grace to grow old, and to die gracefully.  If we were conscious of our connectedness with nature our lives would be fruitful and joyful as we relate with other living beings.  Let us care for our nature and the life on it.