Peter Abreo –
At some point or another, I’m sure each of us has contemplated the definition of ‘home’ in the modern world we inhabit. The concept can have different connotations for individuals, families, industrialists, nomads, farmers or even astronauts. On nature’s side, the trees, animals, insects and birds also have a home they live and seek refuge in. Our understanding of it is ever-evolving, shifting between physical and metaphorical, or in terms of perspective, an astronaut from Michigan now sees all of Planet Earth or Space as ‘home’.
Homes reflect our personality and analogous lifestyles; as spaces for creative pursuits, representations of ancestral pride, hearths of celebrations and remorse, a chest for prized possessions and artifacts, a foundation to raise a family and more.
Houses, on the other hand, often misinterpreted as homes, are physical structures that accommodate our perceived needs and current circumstances. In large metropolitan cities, the variety can be seen in the forms of extravagant villas, mansions and multi-storied apartments to slum dwellings and street shelters. In industry-focused cities, the concept of micro-homes and living cubes are trending.
Patriots and loyal citizens often refer to their countries and cities as their homes respectively, so do priests in their parishes, farmers on their lands and in glaring contrast, soldiers on the battlefield. Having outlined the physical dimensions, a broader perspective will lead us to the psychological, sociological and cosmological construct of these spaces.
How often today, do we come across broken homes, property disputes, derelict mansions, exploited communities, corrupt institutions, neglected ecosystems and destroyed civilizations.
On the third planet from the Sun, a flourishing, nourishing and entrancing ecosystem that humanity calls home, forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. A recent UN study, states that, since the early ‘90’s, we have lost more than 420 million hectares or about a billion acres of forest. Closer to us in India, we are witnessing unprecedented urban decay, cities failing to provide people with natural resources like water, pure air, food and equitable livelihoods. The global crises we are witnessing today leave us scampering for a renewed understanding and reclamation of the homes we live in.
Ancient scriptures come to the rescue, and the Holy Bible as a treasure trove of wisdom, has intricately woven and metaphorically crafted teachings for our interpretation and contemplation. An often quoted text from the book of John (14:2), “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you”, might just be the divine narrative we are looking for.
This verse uses the term monai, which literally means “dwelling places,” and the Greek term oikos also frequently used in the Bible, relates to families, households, a unit of society and the larger web of interconnected humans on earth. These scriptures, written thousands of years ago, illustrate that there is more for us to discover, than the physical dimensions that comprise our existence.
Jesus was preparing his disciples to comprehend a space beyond the physical and the frequent mentions of ‘Heaven & Earth’ and ‘on Earth as in Heaven’ in our prayers are evidence of his intentions. Given the allegorical nature of Biblical texts, let’s try and uncover what this could mean as we circumnavigate the 21st century.
There are magical and mysterious phenomena beyond the physical world that we take for granted. Basic observations point us to the physical-metaphysical, visible-invisible, internal-external or material-spiritual dimensions of our existence.
A simple example may be helpful here. The human body, with our limbs, spine, nervous system, organs, brain and skin represents our physical form. Around us, lives the elemental world of micro-organisms in earth, water, fire, air and space. The vital lifeforce, what Eastern philosophical practitioners call Chi, animates everything around us, stimulating our senses and accentuating our awareness.
Our biosphere nearest to Earth and the Space realm, though infinite and invisible to the naked eye, are a foundational part of our ecosystem. Like an atom and its subatomic particles of protons, neutrons and electrons, the perceived emptiness around our planet, is filled with magical stardust, playing the role of angels working tirelessly towards the growth and evolution of all species on Earth. The planets, stars, moon, galaxies and black holes also contribute as an interconnected neural network around us.
Noticeably, from these examples, there are multiple layers of dwelling places for all sentient beings and sadly, we humans are responsible for most of the damage to the ecosystem around us; in our hearts, bodies, homes, surroundings, cities, countries, Earth, biosphere and outer space.
When we sing ‘God is dwelling in my heart, he and I are one’, we mean God’s love is at the center of everything we do and that should be the starting point to co-exist in all His mansions. If we believe in the Genesis of our existence, then all matter is a manifestation of our Creator and should predominantly be filled with spirit and soul, rather than possessions and artifacts. Every being on Earth, the trees, clouds, rainbows, stars, planets, galaxies and the larger cosmos, are extensions of primordial selves and require an outside-in perspective towards harmonious existence.
Change however needs to be inside-out and the time has come for us NOW, to pause, reflect and comprehend what ancient masters and messiahs like Jesus were trying to tell us. Can we as individuals and the human collective start to make minor and if required, transformational changes in the way we look after our bodies, our homes, families, animals, the atmosphere and all living things around us? Can we merge the physical with the metaphysical, visible and invisible, Earth and Heaven and bring harmony into our world?
Can we spend an extra moment to love our neighbours, extend compassion towards the least of our brothers and sisters, open our hearts, cleanse our institutions, show gratitude for what Mother Nature graciously provides us and blend into the wondrous universe around us? After all, home is where the heart is!
Rev. Robert P. Starbuck, MDiv, PhD., the pastor of Valley View United Methodist Church in, Kansas, delivered a sermon way back in 1962 that resonates profoundly with our contemporary struggle against climate change. His discourse, aptly titled “The Missiles of October 1962 – Humanity’s Need – More Than Survival,” touched upon themes of human hubris and the fragile equilibrium of life, the selfish and relentless quest for dominion over each other, potential catastrophic climate shifts due to human actions and the various threats that would disrupt the delicate balances sustaining our planet.
Thus, as we ponder these words, let’s individually and collectively storm heaven, to guide us through a disconnected world, ushering us toward a future that cherishes and nurtures all life forms. It’s time to live consciously, morally, and in harmony with the cosmos and everything around us. A perfect balance between body, mind and soul can be our way to unify our will with that of the divine.
I end by invoking the perennially powerful Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father…in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”
(The cover image is from a popular American poem and country song)
Peter Abreo currently works on habitat restoration and conservation projects around the Eastern Himalayas. He recently quit a three-decade corporate career to pursue his interests in writing, music and spending time with nature.
He can be reached at [email protected]