Once upon a time, when I was a kid, there was plenty of rainfall. Water was flowing. Ponds, lakes, rivers were filled till the brim. My friends and I used to play in ponds, wells and rivers. We even learnt our first swimming lessons there. On the other side, the forest, plants, and farming land, were so good. On the whole, it felt like creation was ‘pure and strong’.
After a decade now, the climate and seasonal rainfall have changed drastically. These changes along with a few other factors led to drought in our region, from Niva river (Ponnai river) in Chittoor to Palar river in Vellore. The ground-water level reduced. No water in hand pumps, wells or bore-wells too. Due to less rainfall, water scarcity rapidly increased. Villages and farm lands were most affected. I, my parents and neighbors, we walked two kilometres to fetch two pots of water. It was the first drought I ever experienced in my life. This was the time when, yield from crops reduced, price of vegetables and food items increased. There were very less efforts taken by the government to empower us and the villages/ towns around. The lives of many people were at stake. Can you imagine, how worse it would have gotten during this pandemic, while the middle class and the poor suffer? How would one pour out to God when they do not have anything to eat or drink?
This is the time, many turned towards God, including me, because we had nowhere else to go. Once upon a time, we were all praying for rainfall, to god in churches, in temples, in mosques etc. But now we are searching for God in our own dirty places. The water is gone. The land is dry. The earth tearlessly cries in its brokenness. The pain the earth is going through at this time is shared with us, we too are a part of this cry. Will anyone hear us? Is there anyone to fill us with water so our eyes can cry?
While comparing my childhood days with the present situation, my heart and mind groans ‘Enough is Enough’. I felt that Pure has changed to dirt and strong has changed to pollution everywhere. It is time people realized and corrected their faulty ways. The dirty place (dried and torn apart) was apt for Corona to affect. I say this because the earth has its own ways to restore order. But the harsh reality was, it comes at the cost of the many vulnerable communities in struggle. Today's economic fall is for the rich to know, this cry, 'Enough is Enough'. The drought is due to disobedience to God and the greed of humankind. It is time to move from such a dirty greed for accumulating and share everything with creation.This drought has led to a lesser spiritual connection with creation. To be in relationship with God is to also be in relationship with creation. Are we ready to right our wrongs? Are we ready to give-up our comfort zones and become a Just human community? Are we ready to give-up, "the crown of creation" title and be a part of creation? If yes, God be with you. Amen.
Prayer:
Our creator God, we thank you for being with us through all kinds of situations,
hardship or happiness, you were with us, when we searched for you and you
revealed yourself to us. Thank you, God. Help us to stay beside you and obey
you to have your continuous blessing in and through creation. Amen.
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Author: D. Colindass
About
the Author: Colindass belongs to the CSI Vellore
Diocese. He completed his Bachelor of Divinity in UTC Bangalore, in 2018.
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