By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy
Panaji, Aug 13, 2020: We had wonderful crops from our drumstick tree this year. It was in abundance during lockdown months and we shared them with others.
At the onset of first summer rainstorm two branches were broken. Realizing that the tree needed a pruning we cut off all the branches. Looking at the trunk some opined that it may not grow again and we would have to plant a branch in another area of the garden if we wanted a tree again.
The universe continued to be kind. Soon tender shoots filled the trunk top and grew taller skyward, day after day, rather crowded. I even wondered how they will bear fruit if all branches moved in the upward direction.
Before long the answer came in another storm. The entire crowd of shoots were scattered, some were even broken down from the trunk. Amazingly the storm had arranged the new shoots on the tree in different direction giving space to grow and expand.
The drumstick tree gave me ample thoughts for reflection as the pandemic continue to keep us in panic, to the sixth month.
The world was fast developing in every sphere forgetting even the master-creator God, when the tiny virus appeared in China, made its way swiftly to different countries and to the entire world.
The drumstick tree taught me that God is still in control. He orders all things in the universe. He knows what is best for the humans and how to do it. Eliminating a few tender shoots and scattering the others are part of His way of keeping the universe alive.
The Gospel of St John tells us (Jn 15:1-3) “I am the true wine and my Father is the wine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.”
I wonder if Coronavirus is a kind of pruning.
Perhaps we could check on the wisdoms we have gained from this pandemic.
It has certainly brought about gratitude in our lives: for our health and life, family, relationships. Don’t we fondly remember the walk with a friend on a beach, a cup of coffee with a friend or a relative in a cozy restaurant, the adventurous trip to a holiday place?
Shannon do Rosario says, “With lockdown all over the world, we learned how to value our daily routine and all the simple things we did. It also showed us how we did not need all our materialistic pleasures to survive and how we can live content with the few essential things we have by using them wisely.”
Daughters of St Paul Sister Vimal Savarimuttu sats she developed an eagerness to read the Word of God and assimilate it during the locked down. “I am also constantly reminded the fleeting nature of my life. People can be taken away from you any moment. I need to resolve the grudges and hurts against anyone and grow closer to God,” she said.
She says the time also gave her and opportunity to grow in her creative talents and to bring out a better version of self.
We live in such an uncertainty, that we are not sure of tomorrow. So if you want to do anything, do it now. We have learned to find happiness in small things in life: to enjoy the chirping of the birds, to appreciate plants and flowers and relish the family meal with our loved ones.
Reflecting on the present social and physical distancing Sanket Chauhan, a Salesian student, enlightens us, “Many times in our life too we close ourselves into our personal lockdown when we decide to stay away from those around us. We start maintaining emotional distancing from people, so as not to get to close to anybody, and are scared to ‘touch’ people’s lives, and let ourselves be touched by others.”
“We are closed in on ourselves that we fail to recognize the need of another; those who require attention, care, kindness and love,” he adds.
In fact, Covid-19 reminds us of the significance, influence, value of ‘touch’. Our lives today are the flowering of ‘touches” of kindness, compassion, and love from our birth onwards. During this pandemic we can pass on the gentle ‘touches’ through our availability and concern for another. Then our lives in the new normal will be different; transformed by genuine compassion, forgiveness and love.
Indeed, the nature is a great teacher. As I watch the drumstick tree grow stronger each day I am reminded of the hand of God at work in the universe: pruning and building human community.