This Week's Quotation:
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
Genesis 2: 7, 15
To Dress and Keep the Garden
Jerry Kvasnicka, Celebrating Flowers
These verses so clearly indicate why we were created: to dress and keep the garden, i.e., nature and the awesomely beautiful planet on which we exist. How are we doing in this regard? From all the evidence that comes to me, we are not doing well. It seems that most human beings believe they are here to plunder the earth, to extract from the natural world as much as they can.
Consider our addiction to fossil fuels to run our automobiles and heat and cool our homes. Consider our use of plastics for everything from food containers to engine parts. Microplastics have been found in ice cores beneath the Arctic! The oceans are full of plastic waste, exacerbating the problem of overfishing. Rain forests are being cleared to make way for cattle ranches.
What can you and I personally do to restore the garden of Eden on Earth? Ultimately the condition of our planet is but a reflection of the condition present in human consciousness. If there is fear and greed in my consciousness, and I express this in my living, it is projected into the earth. The earth’s climate reflects the climate in my consciousness and yours. So the obvious solution is to bring the Truth (water) of Love (the sun) into my consciousness and my living, and if enough of us do this, the earth will begin to flourish again.
I know the problem seems so huge. But this is what we can do about it in our personal lives. In general, we just need to tread as lightly on the planet as we can, honoring the sacredness of Mother Earth. Plant trees and flowers. Ride your bike more often. Above all, dress and keep your own Inner Garden, venerating your physical form with its capacity of consciousness as a “temple of the living God.”
About Open Windows
We, the authors of this blog, dedicate it to the transparent exploration of the world's sacred scripture and enlightened spiritual thought. We believe that the original inspiration of all faiths comes from a common source, named and revered in a myriad of ways. With that understanding, the innumerable symbols, beliefs, and practices of faith cease to divide. They become open windows to a common reality that inspires and unifies us. We find deeper insight and nourishment in our own faith and from the expression of faith from others.
We hope these weekly quotations and meditations speak to your heart and soul.
Dear Jerry, thank you for your excellent thoughts. Only a few days ago was earth day and I think far less than 1% participated in it in any kind of public way if journalists were accurate. It is indeed up to all of us to be in BLESS THE EARTH TODAY mode all of the time and to give thanks for it. Yes, bikes, recycling, tending one’s own inner garden all matter so much. WITH YOU in loving our MOTHER (earth) and in keeping what Martin called the “climate for the garden” just right WITH YOU. Loving thanks for your thoughts. Love, Tom
Thank you Jerry for your works and words. In dressing and keeping the inner garden we create the the beauty of the outer garden of the Temple. As we do this together magnification happens exponentially. This is the only way the Earth Garden of The Creator can and will be restored.
Thank you Jerry – a clear and holy view of our Garden on Earth.