Today is Earth Day. At a time when COVID-19 has wracked our hearts and homes with physical, emotional, and economic pain, and as many grieve the loss of loved ones, it’s important to ask ourselves an extremely uncomfortable question:
“Do WE…human beings…want to be a COVID-like threat to the Earth?”
NO! So where should we turn for inspiration? Which teachers should we enlist to help us sow the seeds of a renewed commitment to caring for planet Earth? I can’t think of a better teacher than the wisdom of immortal poems and poets. I enrolled them when I wrote my book, “Awakening A Leader’s Soul – Learnings Through Immortal Poems,” and I’ll turn to them again today to share a few lines of poetry presented in an essay in the book that discusses the obligations of Leaders and Businesses toward the Environment and Mother Earth.
The tree which moves some to tears of joy
is in the eyes of others
only a green thing
that stands in the way…
William Blake
So, what will trees be for US; a source of beauty and joy, or an obstacle to be cut down?
When I consider how a man-made shift in climate of a few degrees reveals the rebel power we now have learned to cultivate in order to subdue the animals and take dominion, like a curse, over the fields, the forests, and the atmosphere — as if the universe belonged to us alone – I wonder if consideration of the family of trees might give us pause and let us once again obey the sun, whose light commands all human laws. Robert Pack Select Lines From, “The Trees Will Die”
Do we want the trees to die? They will, unless…
UNLESS someone…cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
We can make it better, if we truly Listen to the immortal wisdom of poetry, literature, and philosophy, but not stop there, but actually Live it.
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors
We borrow it from our children.
Native American and Other Early Cultures
Happy Earth Day.
I have your book of Poems. They narrate fine, exalted thoughts. Make us pause and think of the World and of ourselves. There is so much more to Life than chasing petty ambitions and trying to meet the never ending desires of material goods. Time to contemplate and ponder
Thanks Arun. Most certainly, time to contemplate and ponder. Tons of questions, no easy answers. Wonder if it’s always been this way, or is it the price of a things, needs, ownership obsessed civilization?
Your writing definitely spurs one to think deeply and take some actions, whatever they may be, within our sphere of control.
Well expressed, dear Gaurav..Keep going !!
Thanks Raman. Thinking deeply and taking relevant action is what counts!
Gaurav,
Sending you separately a Punjabi peom – Kudrat badi saayani hai.
Love
Look forward to it chief!
What astute awareness. I so love this.
Your collection of most targeted thoughts is very inspiring. May this, and I’m sure much more of you, guide us to the God given natural beauty we all desire.
Wake up humanity!
Thanks Jacque. Leading with one’s HUMANITY is what my book, “Awakening A Leader’s Soul,” is about. It’s theme, Soulful Leadership, states that in today’s VUCA world, where leadership challenges can’t be resolved with simple binary thinking (yes/no, agree/disagree, right/wrong), the biggest asset of a leader is their humanity, not their executive brilliance.