ATTUNING AND COOPERATIONG 3

 MORE WISE LESSONS

Don't fight against, but cooperate with, embrace diversity, contribute to the greater good, and dare to take risks—these are valuable lessons we can learn from nature. But there is more to learn...

For example, it is amazing how nature has no preconceptions: nothing is ruled out in advance. A tree does not say, “I don't want to be planted in that soil,” but simply “tries” it out. A flock of sheep is not afraid of a grassy field with what we consider to be a lot of ‘weeds’. Just look at how flocks of sheep are used to ‘clean’ rough ground or overgrown heathland (as in the photo of the Lüneburg Heath).
Nature starts with an ‘open mind’, as it were: ‘Let's see what's possible...’ That is a big lesson for us humans:

BE OPEN TO THE WHOLE TRUTH.

Keep your eyes, ears, mind, and especially your heart open to what is happening on a larger scale. Do not resist painful information about the state of our world. Dare to read and listen to ‘difficult’ or ‘unwelcome’ information.

Yes, know that your suffering from the state of our world stems precisely from your connection to that world! Your willingness to feel the suffering of others gives you energy and shows you what true well-being is.

In practice, this means that you don't just glance at things, but take the time to be moved by, for example, photos or stories of desperate climate refugees, of animals dying from drought, of children dying from the toxic environment in which they have to work, of the victims of a devastating tornado, of the extinction of fish in a river, and so on.

IT'S OKAY TO FEEL BAD, BUT...

In addition, consciously look for examples of good initiatives and actions, both in your immediate environment and elsewhere. Collect them for yourself, make a list, and keep them in mind! This will give you confidence and courage, inspire your creativity, make you happy, and expand your heart!

Pope Francis writes in Laudato Si' that we need both: a willingness to suffer, even to mourn with the victims, in order to truly feel their pain, fear, and sorrow — AND to be open to all the good that is also being done in so many ways and in so many places—and which you can join!

DISTINGUISH

Nature is extremely sensitive to what works and what does not work. It teaches us to carefully distinguish between ‘true’ and ‘false’.
An important example:
Like nature, be very alert to distinguish between fake news (which is always biased and often involves hidden interests) and honest, factual, and independent information, even if it is sometimes painful and discouraging. Have the courage to know the whole truth and, when appropriate, to speak it: the good and the bad, the wrong and the promising. 
That is what will really help you move forward.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

In nature, everything is truly interconnected and everything works together. A root system, for example, is an extremely sophisticated mechanism in which an incredible amount of interaction takes place.

When you feel that it is difficult to be open to the whole truth, to everything that comes your way, the encouraging and the disturbing, be aware that you are not alone! There are many more people who share your feelings, your fears, and your desires and hopes. 
Dare to share your feelings and questions with others, as well as your suggestions and your hopes. There is a good spirit, yes, God's good Spirit, which is active in so many people of good will. Therefore, do not be afraid!

DARE TO DREAM!

Does nature “dream”? Yes, certainly, in the sense of resting, waiting, allowing possibilities to mature, responding sensitively to “silent” signals...

We can learn from it, as already mentioned: Live with an open mind; believe in many possibilities. Do not believe anyone who claims to have the only and definitive answer. Such claims are signs of ignorance or (hidden) self-interest. 

On the contrary, be open and dare to dream: imagination can be a great virtue, writes Pope Francis. It can be a valuable and crucial way to serve, even a form of practical, but also spiritual and religious leadership! It is first and foremost a new way of looking, of appreciating, of thinking and empathizing, which then resonates in our behavior and our practice. It is about a coherent change of mind, heart, and action!

BELIEVE IN GRADUALITY AND PROCESSES

Nature is amazing: on the one hand, everything moves slowly (in our eyes), and on the other hand, it is very persistent and continues tenaciously and resourcefully. It does not use force, but rather all its inner strength and creativity. 
Nature works step by step, can wait for the right opportunity, but is then ready with all available resources. It works in steady, regular, and usually cyclical processes, taking all the time it needs, without restless haste but with great purpose.

The lesson for us humans is obvious: believe in gradual development, do not force anything through haste and impatience, but know what you want. Allow processes, such as the growth of insight or conviction, to unfold gradually and trust in the good result—when the situation is ripe for it.

USE ALL TALENTS

We can learn from nature that, in principle, everything that is present in a situation can play a role in a growth process. Everything that can serve the purpose is used. Biology is discovering more and more ‘smart’ methods and possibilities, particularly in the field of the extreme versatility of microorganisms.

We humans have received many gifts and should be grateful for them. We can therefore be expected not to bury those gifts, but to make them available with conviction and generosity and use them for what we have to do. Those gifts are not our private property, but have been given to us for the common good, and we discover that it is precisely this ‘selfless’ commitment that often unleashes unexpected creativity!


Dear reader, there are so many lessons we can learn from nature ! They may sound obvious to us, yet in practice it is often quite a challenge to apply them.

In the next contribution to this blog, we will give some concrete examples of how we can apply these lessons in our care for nature in a concrete and intelligent way. 
Yes, let nature teach us, help us and save us!

See you next time!

Johan Muijtjens