A family story meant to be read together with discussion
What's in a dump?
Well, if it looks like a pile or mound of God's good earth that grew over time with old tires, paper bags and newspapers, then that's how such a dump or space is treated. A dump attracts more of the same, does it not? A beer can here, a bottle there. Junk everywhere now.
That's what became an eyesore near my home. In this parcel of land with knee-high weeds, beer bottles, plastic and soda cans, there lived this dump for years. An eye ache for sure.
One day, a neighbor near the dump decided to rearrange things as the writer of Genesis in the Hebrew Scriptures notes of the Maker at the beginning of time, and order was put into the disorderly mess. God created our good earth.
Boulders that refused to budge became the focal point for a garden mound minus the dump and debris. Weeds were cut. Warped wood from the winds and winter was carried off into a dumpster to be taken perhaps to another "official" dump.
Evergreen spruce trees were planted and emerging red tulips and yellow pansies were transplanted amid the rock. Stones were scrubbed and shined with new life. Fresh and looking nice once more! Like restored dignity in each human being.
Neglect created the dump over time. Attention and affection would restore this good earth. Covering the mound with a tender touch is like affirming a person's low opinion of her or himself.
Like people, I thought. While one treats him or herself like a "dump" with little esteem and respect, that's how people treat him or her, it seems, sad to say. Far from God's dignity and worth given to all!
In the greatest story ever told about a man crucified on Mount Calvary, humans forgot how to respect life and failed to see the love of Jesus the Christ. Life was cheap, it seemed, for some. Afraid of love and challenge by Jesus, rulers mocked and made a mess of things, of God's son, Jesus the Christ. They were fearful of charity, love that lived in Jesus and "the Way," the early Christian community. Fear shuts them and us down and terrible things are done in the face of fear.
The bright sunshine of this Spring season is like that. It reminds people to respect all of earth, humans and creation of greens, and, abundant life all around and within us when life awakens once more and birds wildly sing at dawn.
- Dedicated to Haiti, Chile, El Savador, and Poland's National Grief -
(Lawrence M. Ventline is a Catholic pastor and board certified professional counselor on special assignment for the Archdiocese of Detroit. He directs Cura Animarum Counseling, and, is founder of www.interfaithwork.com. Reach him at his office at Sacred Heart Church, Roseville, MI., USA at 586 777 9116).
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