Reflection by a seminarian at the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam, Kerala, India
After a period of contemplation and inspiration drawn from the wisdom of my teacher/friend Fr. Dr. K.M. George and his solitary walks, I find myself compelled to document my observations about the remarkable displays that nature graciously bestows upon us. This initial entry delves into a particular incident that unfolded during a recent evening prayer at the Old Seminary’s chapel, which sparked my musings on the profound lessons that nature often imparts.
The Hidden Lizard
A few days ago, while I was attending the evening prayer within the sacred confines of the Old Seminary’s chapel. As the congregation’s voices rose in harmony, an unexpected celestial occurrence graced us—the heavens opened up, and a gentle rain began to fall. The sound of the raindrops harmoniously intertwined with the devotional chanting, creating a soothing and meditative atmosphere. It was a moment of serene beauty.
However, as is often the case, the chapel’s bright white LED lights, designed to illuminate the space, inadvertently attracted a swarm of tiny flies when the rain began. In an effort to mitigate this distraction, the white lights were turned off, and the warm lights were switched on, casting a gentle, amber glow throughout the chapel. But curiously, two lights at the front of the chapel remained illuminated, defying the switch.
Intriguingly, this unexpected twist in lighting fate lured some adventurous flies toward the persistently illuminated white LED tubes. And then, something truly remarkable happened—a troupe of wall lizards emerged from their hiding places within the tubes and launched a coordinated attack on the unsuspecting flies. It was a scene to behold, akin to a dramatic dogfight in mid-air, as the wall lizards skilfully pursued their airborne prey. In the end, the wall lizards emerged victorious and savoured a well-earned feast.
Reflection
As I stood there, captivated by this unfolding drama in the chapel, I couldn’t help but draw a parallel between this natural spectacle and our own spiritual journey. In this analogy, the flies symbolize human beings, while the white LED lights represent the worldly desires that perpetually beckon to us. The moment the lights were switched off stands as a metaphor for the warnings or signs that life occasionally presents during our journey, often manifesting as our low points or difficult periods.
Yet, what truly intrigued me was the group of flies that disregarded the warnings and ventured beyond the confines of safety. This, I thought, mirrors the human tendency to ignore these warning signals and persist in the pursuit of worldly desires, often succumbing to the allure of addictions.
The wall lizards, lurking in the shadows and seizing the opportunity to pounce on the unsuspecting flies, represent the hidden, malevolent forces that can lay in wait for us when we venture beyond our warning limits. The outcome of this intriguing drama serves as a stark reminder, sometimes, when we recklessly exceed our limits, it can lead to dire consequences, even death.
In this simple yet profound observation, I found a meditation on the delicate balance between our desires, our spiritual journeys, and the unseen challenges that await us when we heedlessly exceed the boundaries set by life’s warnings. Nature, it seems, always has profound lessons to offer those willing to pay attention.
CBJ
