GROWING TOGETHER
A
boy visited a pet store to purchase a puppy. He was shown different varieties
of pet puppies. But he selected a weak, lame and limping puppy lying alone in a
corner. The manager explained that it was handicapped, but the boy showed him
his own crutches which he had to use as support during walking. He said,
"That poor, little puppy needs me and I need him. We need each
other."
The evergreen giant redwood trees (Sequoia
sempervirens) of California are often so high( maximum height = 379.3 feet or 115.6 m) that their tops are not seen clearly from the ground. They
are large (with a diameter up to 26
feet or 7.9 m). Still these trees
have an amazingly shallow root system.
Their roots remain near the surface soil and do not go deep (maximum depth is
about 13 feet only). But these
majestic trees can withstand even strong storms with ease. Their surprising
stability is caused by 'co-operative growth' or the 'grove factor'.
The
trees grow in close proximity to each other. The roots of a tree spread out in
all directions (extending to up to 100
feet from the trunk) and get tangled up with the roots of the neighbouring
trees. The intertwining of the roots of the trees which grow together protects
each tree from the onslaughts of nature like harsh winds and raging floods. Trees
in forests of redwoods have lasted for up
to two thousand years but a solitary tree may not last long.
The
growth of the Sequoia trees is a model for any family, community, congregation
or society. A group grows to reach a stable state only when the members are
knit together in love and harmony. Firm fellowship of the faithful enables a
church to withstand the winds of temptation or persecution.
Our spiritual life can progress and flourish
only with the sincere support of others, especially when we face difficulties
and crises in life. The Church as a community in communion with Christ,
provides this support and solidarity to its members.
The early Christian communities displayed three major qualities: Daring, Caring and Sharing. They
had the courage to practise Christianity even facing adverse conditions and
persecutions. They showed care and kindness to each other, especially to the
weak, the sick and the poor.
We should be ready to share our possessions with those in greater need. We may give without loving, but we cannot love without giving. Sir Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
We should be ready to share our possessions with those in greater need. We may give without loving, but we cannot love without giving. Sir Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
...........................................................................................................
© By:
Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science &
Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof.
Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St. Dominic's
College, Kanjirappally and
Leo. S.
John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally,
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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