Before and After

BEFORE

AFTER

We took a refreshing brook with flower-covered banks and surrounding woodland and turned it into... a road system for lots of cars to crawl along bumper to bumper.

BEFORE

AFTER

We took an invigorating rushing stream banked by trees and shrubs amidst woodland... and turned it into a dual carriageway which quickly choked up with cars.

BEFORE

AFTER

We took beautiful woodlands crossed by a sluggish watercourse and... yes, you've guessed it... ran a motorway through them for... you've guessed it again... endless lines of speeding motor vehicles to drive on!

AND COULD IT ALL BE LIKE THIS AGAIN?

I DOUBT IT!

Well, there are parts of the country that are still like this or the other pictures here. The question is how long will they last. Our forests, woodlands, meadows and wild places have continued to diminish over the centuries as we concrete them over for housing and other buildings and drive roads through them. Perhaps our uplands and mountains will fare better given the difficulty involved in turning them into highways and housing estates!

Autumn

"SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness!

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;"

These are the opening lines of John Keats's famous poem 'To Autumn', in praise of the colours, smells and sights of this crossover season of the year. What he doesn't mention, of course, are the cold, wind, rain and often frost that often accompany this season! For Keats Autumn is a rich tapestry that regales the senses and heightens the emotions.

"As Summer into Autumn slips

And yet we sooner say

"The Summer" than "the Autumn," lest

We turn the sun away,"

The first verse of Emily Dickinson's musing on Autumn neatly captures the feeling that we have a tendency to lengthen Summer and keep Autumn at bay for as long as we can, not so much because of Autumn itself but rather of what it brings in its wake. And so last few days of Summer spill over into the first few days of Autumn. But as the leaves begin to fall from the trees and the winds begin to blow, we grudgingly accept the coming of Autumn and comfort ourselves with the thought that there may well be fine days still to come before the onset of Winter.

“Laden Autumn here I stand Worn of heart, and weak of hand: Nought but rest seems good to me, Speak the word that sets me free.”

So speaks William Morris of Autumn in the Autumn of his own life. And of course this season of the year has often be identified with the penultimate phase of human life, in the antechamber, so to speak, of the closing years of man's allotted term. Autumn is laden with ripened fruit, but it is also the season of decomposition. It puts the icing on Summer but it also opens the door to Winter. Autumn celebrates the fruits of Summer, but it also paves the way for the desolation of Winter. In short, it looks both ways, it is Janus, the God that faces both forward and backward.

The Light of the World

The imposing figure of Christ the Redeemer, arms outstretched, stands like a lonely sentinel on its lofty perch atop Corcovado mountain high above the sprawling city of Rio de Janeiro, with which it is now inseparably linked in people's minds. Some devout pilgrims have said that they have seen Christ weep. And those that believe in him are certain that he must weep to see the sad state of the world today.

One day, seeing such misery down below, Jesus raised his voice to his Father in Heaven, and spake these words: "Oh Heavenly Father of mine, my heart is heavy with sorrow at what i see below me, at the poverty, hardship and wickedness that afflicts mankind. Pray tell me if there is ought I can do to drive back the tide of evil that is now engulfing the human race and I will do it to the full. What shall I do, my Father, what shall I do?"

And his Father spake unto him, saying: "Alas, my son, there is nothing more for thee to do on Earth. Man must fashion his own destiny and wreak his own end. Thou hast done what was entrusted to thee, carried out thy mission, and paid the ultimate price. Now thou must seek to comfort those who call upon thee, give hope to those that believe in thee, embrace those that seek solace through thee, and enlighten those that endeavour to spread the Word to all who will hear it."

And Jesus replied: "But Father, it pains me so to see Man steeped in such mortal sin. I can hardly bear to witness day after day so much misery and so much sorrow in the world and do nothing. Thou didst send me once to bring hope and forgiveness and redemption and love to mankind. Canst thou not send me again?"

And the Lord his Father answered: "Were I to send thee again, my Son, to walk among men, thy fate would be no different and the outcome no better. Man has not learnt the lessons of the past nor foresaken worldly desires. Therefore be content to be what thou art, a symbol of hope and love and peace and the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. And let thy outstretched arms embrace all those who call upon thy name and mine. Thy mere presence is like a beacon of light showing the way to eternal salvation. Thou art the bridge between heaven and earth. " And Jesus took to heart the words of his Father and the Creator of all living things and of all that is in the vast Universe, and sought not to question further his Heavenly Father.

And many were those in the city below who, looking up at the statuesque figure of Christ on high at this very moment, saw it bathed in a brilliant celestial light. And they stopped what they were doing and marvelled at the wondrous sight. And a strange peace descended upon them and hope entered their heart once again. And when the shining light had subsided it was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from them, and they broke into spontaneous conversation with their fellow men, unable to contain their joy at what they had seen and felt.

For Jesus had seemed to speak to them, saying: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not live in darkness, but will have the light of life. "