Nature

Everyone has their role to play in this thing called *life*. Light and dark; male and female; negative and positive; yin and yang... working against each other, yet without one the other is non-existent. This is what life is all about; it has nothing to do with how much money you earn; how many conquests you have; how many jobs you are skilled in; how much schooling you've got; how many children you have... none of these - it's all about what happens along the way. It's all about how you live your life.

We are all here for a purpose... we serve it whatever it is and we pass along on another leg of our neverending journey. Some of us stay here for a long time; some don't stay long enough to be truly appreciated. People are to be appreciated; nature and all of it's inhabitants are to be appreciated - all creatures and plant life have a purpose.

When next you are on the road, and someone starts to curse you, smile and throw a kiss and see what response you get. Remember, everyone out there is your mirror - if you give hate, you'll get back hate. If you give love... well, what else to expect in return but more love?

Have you ever watched the moon phases and the reaction of nature to the moon phases? Have you ever been to the beach at full moon and then again at new moon? Everything is connected in this world. At full moon, the surf is rough and restless. At new moon, it's calmer - more serene. Don't say you've never noticed. Take a look next time there's a full moon and then again when there is a new moon.

Do you notice how quickly the grass and flowers respond to a rainfall - no matter how small and insignificant we may think that rainfall to be? I always marvel at how quickly my parent's lawn is green again after a shower of rain - it's like overnight! No really! You need to take a look next time.

Just like the mountains... after a rainfall, they looked washed and refreshed. No worries. And they stand there majestic - like nothing will ever move them... and between you and me - it's gonna take a mighty string force to move them.

My experience up at Cinchona is still with me like it were yesterday. Cinchona is a beautiful garden way up in the foothills of the Blue Mountain Range - across a valley from Newcastle (JDF training camp).

To get there, we had to take a Land Rover - and I want to tell you that there were places I had doubts we would be able to pass. However, our skilled driver definately knew what he was doing! We passed through some beautiful scenery along the way - breathtaking valleys and paralyzing cliffs... splendid flowers and wayside plants... roaring waterfalls and gurglng streams... friendly people and peaceful animals...

After driving for what seemed like an hour, we came upon this magnificent place! I don't know if I'll ever be able to describe it so that you, Dear Reader, can see it in your minds eye.. but I sure will try...

After climbing a steep roadway with a cliff on one side and hillside on the other, we came out into this clearing... to the left, was a vast valley with towering hills... it was so vast, that if you stood still, you could actually hear the wind. Has anybody ever heard the wind? You feel it and see it toss the branches and brush about - don't you? Well... I stood still gasping at the sheer vastness and beauty of it and I heard the wind. It hummed through the valley like a contented lion - just fed!

The flowers seemed extra beautiful up there - the air extra clean - the feelings, extra intense... the grass, extra green... the waters, extra clear... (even though the fish tanks hadn't been cleaned in months...) Even the ruin of the buildings could not detract from this virtual paradise... I was overwhelmed... I don't think I've quite captured the feeling, Dear Reader. And I'm gonna have to tell you that the only way to get the true essence, is to come and experience it yourself...

Forget Jamaica's beautiful beaches... you can get that anytime and beaches are a dime a dozen in the caribbean - you need to check out our unique inland attractions - places such as Cinchona.

But, back to the point, Dear Reader. You cannot deny, when seeing all of this, that there is more to *life* than Christianity and God and baptism and fellowship... there is more to this religion than just a belief... there is more to this faith than blind following... Nature! Back to nature! That's where our religion ought to stem from... that is where the true spiritual answers are buried. Become one with yourself and hence with nature - there shall we find our true "nature".

Back to Ponderings