By Sister Michele Morek (seen riding an elephant in Thailand 20 years ago with her sister-in-law Gah, and below petting a baby elephant with her niece Lisa.)
Besides Easter, there were so many of my favorite days to celebrate in April!
Earth Day on the 22nd. Pope Francis’ transitus on April 21. And Rachel Carson’s commemoration on April 14. (See Give Us This Day Vol 16 for April)
Do you see a theme emerging here?
Carson’s book Silent Spring catapulted her to fame as a spokesperson for the environment, as she so powerfully raised the issue of how humans could negatively impact the Earth and its creatures, by focusing on the impact of DDT on birds.
Father Thomas Berry warned that “To wantonly destroy a living species is to silence forever a Divine Voice.” On the same theme Carson wondered how differently we might see creation if we would ask: “What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew that I would never see it again?”
What if I could never again see a whale breaching above the sea? Or hear the song of a robin? Or smell a lilac?
Try it with an elephant: Imagine trying to tell your grandchildren about this marvelous five-ton giant who could give itself a shower with its nose – or even pick up a dime with that same versatile organ. An intelligent creature who grieved dead friends and adopted orphan babies. Imagine having to tell them they would never see an elephant.
I imagine Saint Angela taking time out from her farm duties to roam the fields of Lombardy in spring, loving nature as we do, and admiring the sparrows, swifts, Alpine Pasque flowers, and gentians. I imagine her meeting Rachel Carson in heaven, and laying upon us a “charge” to stay connected to and care for creation:
May the strength and true consolation of the Holy Spirit be in you all, so that you can sustain and carry out vigorously the charge laid upon you. (Angela Merici – Counsels)
- Is there an animal that you consider especially “weird and wonderful?” How would it feel to know there were no more of its kind left on Earth?
- Spend some time with a flower and see what it says to you about God.
- Have you read “Silent Spring?” It’s a classic!
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