Water Day

It was only a few days ago that I learned of the UN's World Water Day, an event which is taking place today, and being celebrated worldwide as I write.
Clearly the rain knew before I did.  It must have taken quite a while to accumulate the torrential downpour that's currently beating against the window.

What's more, by a remarkable coincidence, it's on World Water Day that Thames Water has received a record-breaking £20,000,000 fine for seriously polluting the River Thames.

Do we need World Water Day?

As I'm sure you'd agree, those of us in the western world are prone to take water for granted.  We rarely marvel at the outcome when we turn a tap, or express gratitude when we fill the kettle.  Sub-consciously, we consider water to be little more than an amenity, and the supply of water needed to be fully under our control.

How different in the parched areas of Africa, where millions are currently suffering in conditions of severe drought.
Or in the inundated regions of South America, where homes and lives are being swept away in severe flooding.  The vital water that sustains can just as easily destroy.

But, just think about it for a moment . . . and, as you do so, pause and look down at your hand.
If water is no more than an amenity, how is it that over sixty per cent of your hand is made of water?  What's more, the water isn't static and personal to you.  Tomorrow it could have moved on to be the burgeoning bud on a tree, or perhaps activating a cat's paw.

It's also true that, aware only of the unity of life, and not of mankind's manufactured differences, the water that flows through a monk one week could just as easily be empowering a terrorist the next.

Ultimately, as the scientist Bruce Lipton tells us in a short video, without water there is no life . . . click here to enjoy his thoughts for yourself.

Today, as part of the worldwide activities, people are gathering at water sources to reflect, give gratitude, make music and celebrate.
For this one day at least, water is being recognised for its unique and vital role.

As I write these words I can see that the the rain has stopped, sunshine is filling the room.

Before the clouds return, I must go out and give gratitude for every puddle!

All about weeds!

Spring is in the air, I'm sure you've felt it.  The days are lengthening, the birds are courting, and those of us with gardens and window-boxes will soon be immersing our hands in the soil.

Which leaves me with a question . . . what would you say is a weed?

As I'm sure you'll agree, strictly speaking there's no such thing as a weed.  Every plant on earth demonstrates the wonderful diversity of creation.  Every plant has its own intricate beauty, the design of every plant is unique.

So, why should we call one unfortunate plant a weed?
Only because, in the opinion of the human concerned, this plant is growing in the wrong place.  A matter of bias rather than fact.
And, who knows, a so-called weed might well be a prized source of nectar in the eyes of a discerning bee.

Yet weeding is something we humans are doing with ever greater enthusiasm . . . and our weeding is not restricted to the plant kingdom.

Have you noticed the amount of social weeding going on recently?

Loudly proclaiming the rightness of our cause, we weed out faiths, nationalities, political persuasions, gender and social strata.  Increasingly we choose to ignore the fact that humanity, when mutually supportive, can become a peaceful, verdant landscape.

The exclusion of any one sector, by declaring it an unnecessary or troublesome weed, creates areas of wasteland that damage the integrity and unity of the whole.
Our critical weeding is doing us harm.

Mind you, if our long-suffering planet was feeling judgemental, it might well describe the human race itself as little more than a troublesome and unwanted weed.

Just think about if for a moment . . .  we bear all the hallmarks of a weed.
We are rampant, invasive and detrimental to the well-being of ourselves and all other living species.  To add to our misdemeanors, our thoughtlessness is fast changing the climate.

Might it be wise to change our ways before the Earth decides to undertake some serious weeding?
After all, let's admit it . . .  we need this planet,  it doesn't need us!