| Roses in Autumn
... trust me, they do still bloom even after the warmth of summer
has departed leaving only memories of gentle breezes and sunshine. Actually,
their blooms can be even more breathtaking as their indomitable spirit
brightens the landscape even as less stalwart blossoms fade and wither
as their season draws to a close. If nothing else they remind us that
if the roots are deep and the plant has been well nurtured they can, and
will, withstand much more than one might expect.
We would do well
to pay heed to the message to be learned from these fragile yet resolute
gifts of nature. Seasons may change, hardships may befall us, but
if our faith and our will to survive remain we can, and will, overcome
all but the most insurmountable problems we encounter.
The secret of course
is in the nurturing we received as we were making the journey
to maturity. A fact which in these days of mistrust and fear
we would all do well to remember. All over this world there are multitudes
of tiny minds in the early stages of development absorbing
and learning the lessons which will influence their actions and beliefs
as they mature into full blown adulthood. We have an enormous responsibility
to ensure that those children do not perpetuate the hatred now so
rampant in our world. We must change the climate of mistrust and
fear so prevalent in our present societies if future generations are to
have any future on this planet.
It is not enough
to give lip service to the importance of values and principles in
our own children, we must also consider the values we are, by our actions,
engraving not only on the minds of our own children but also
the children who will share this planet with them. Even the sturdiest rose
will be destroyed by a deliberate action taken by someone who has no appreciation
for the beauty the rose represents.
Our actions make
an impression on the minds and hearts of children which is more long
lasting than anything they will ever learn from textbooks ... or
from a lifetime of lip service given to moral values. How we behave
transmits a much more powerful message. The child who sees brutality, violence
and hostility instead of acceptance and understanding, is a child who is
being taught to fear and to hate. Whether the violence be in their own
home at the hands of a parent or at the hands of those who would impose
upon them a way of life which is not of their choosing. Each has the same
result. Mistrust, fear and anger are the by-product we create. Violence
in our homes helps to fill our penal institutions with these
damaged human beings we have produced and the violence we see around
the world can be seen mirrored in the eyes of the children traumatized
by the horror we inflict upon them by refusing to learn that warfare has
no winners.
These precious
children are not born filled with hate. Their minds and hearts are open
and trusting only waiting to be guided and nurtured and taught to respect
their fellow man. The crime we continue to perpetuate by destroying that
innocence is one for which we all shall answer one day.
If each of
us was to embrace as a yardstick for our actions ... IF IT'S
TO BE, IT'S UP TO ME ... that attitude would in time be propagated
to every part of this earth and perhaps we would achieve at long last
that which we so fervently claim to desire ... peace on earth.
Children, and
the adults they will become, like roses, do bloom not only in summer but
in autumn as well, so long as the warmth of the sun shines through
the cloudy skies for even brief moments encouraging the rosebuds
to open themselves to life and the promise of beauty they hold. It
only needs the warmth and light to encourage them to blossom as nature
intended.
" Children
have never been very good at listening to their elders,
but
they have never failed to imitate them."
- James Baldwin
To visit the various other
pages of our site click below to reach the Site Directory
My sincere thanks to Margi
Harrell for the use of this superb midi
You will find several
of this very talented pianist's CD's available for sale on her
site.
November 29th 2003
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