There she stands in full bloom. The leaves in lush green and all the grandeur of flowers in a riot of colours. How old  will it be.  I have no idea. All I know is that it has been there since I was a child.

The  tree made its presence felt,  when we saw the roof above our kitchen strewn with the bright orange flowers. However, besides its beauty on the tree, it was not very helpful to my Mum, who had to get the roof cleared off all the fallen flowers. Invariably someone had to climb the roof to do this. We liked the tree as it gave such joy at summer to see it in full bloom. Mum looked at this differently. It was a tiresome task to clear the roof every time.

Years have gone by. Now we have a terrace over the kitchen instead of the roof. There is also a beautiful garden, well kept by my wife. She loves plants of various kind even the ones bearing flowers. So will you expect a different approach to the Mayflower tree.

Not so. This tree  stands even taller . Her branches have spread much wider. Of course the flowers at summer have increased in their profusion. So we come to  a similar story again. Flowers fall consistently. Clearing them is a lot easier. There is no roof, so we need to just sweep them away. Has this been helpful?

There is much to explain. The fallen flowers  are still not welcome. The overhanging branches which provide such beauty and shade …..also cause birds to perch and then …come their droppings.

You and I love nature; how can we accept it with joy.  Birds on the trees, flowers in full bloom….and then the after effect….the debris….to clear.

I wonder how birds and flowers view human beings. Instead of more trees and birds, we have more concrete jungles. With so called development, the forest with all its wildlife gradually begins to disappear. Where will there be nesting places. And by the way, where do leaves and flowers fall in the forest . Who clears it . Yes nature is much better in the process of recycling. This latter term is now used as a something new in man’s history. But it existed since ancient times.

I grew up when mud existed in our compound. We played various games like marbles, tops, sticks and stones, gilli danda (an Indian game), besides the other games like hockey and cricket. I remember seeing the fine funnel like holes in the mud; and we tried our best to catch the tiny creature who had prepared this work of art, without much success.

Times have changed. We now have paved ground in most places in our cities. Todays children have no time to play the outdated games. Today we have ‘gaming’ indoors; you sit in one place and play ‘virtual’ games.

Coming back to the Mayflower tree. How long will we allow it to stand. Will we see the days when man may install artificial trees; since they will not have any old flowers and leaves falling. Will we see  birds frequent our environment?

Give it a thought. An awareness of nature around us, will help us to save the earth….its fields, forests, birds and animals.

But first and foremost, man must live in peace to start this work. The destructive actions of men in so many parts of the world , will only cause the end of his environment. Where will  these killing fields spread next? Can this debris of hatred be overcome by love and understanding ?

We  wait in hope for the new heaven and  new earth…..looking after the vineyard of our lives, until the day we meet the Master of this vineyard!!!

May my Mayflower tree be symbolic of all that’s beautiful in nature….and a time of waiting, and hoping and caring;

Until  we hear the One seated on the throne say “ Behold, I make all things new”. (Revelations 21:5)