A long, long time ago there was a wise and ancient Mother. Her children were grown and had given her grandchildren. One day she gathered them together to show them something.
“My precious ones, I am giving you this Home. It has everything you need to live. It has shelter, warmth, cooling breezes, enough water for drinking, washing, and enjoyment; copious food growing everywhere as well as a great deal of space for growing your own food; animals for you to love, abundant sunshine for heat and light, and trees for shade. You must take good care of this home, and when you are old, like me, you must gift it to your own children.”
Her children were overjoyed. Their new home was unbelievably beautiful and plenteous. They lived at the home and tended it for a very long time.
But after a while, they became restless. They let the home fall into ruin. The stronger children ate most of the food and used most of the resources that the home provided. The weaker children suffered hunger and need because of the greedy ones. They began to fight and even kill each other.
Some of the children created substances that harmed their home and the people. The air became unbreathable, the water dirty, and the gardens produced less food. They invented machines that seemed to be able to make their lives better, but they only complicated things.
Many of the children left the home to find new homes, but this only caused more problems. They took homes that belonged to other children and brought their unhealthy substances and machines with them, which also ruined the other peoples’ homes. And they fought with the other children and sometimes even killed them.
Finally the children cried out in despair, “Mother! Help us! Our home is ruined and we have no food or clean water or shelter, and we are killing each other! And we no longer have a beautiful home to give to our children!”
Mother sighed. “My children, I told you what you must do, but you have not listened. Only you can save your home, your children, and the other people. You must take care of your home and your children the way I told you to, and live in peace with the other people.”
The children sighed. They talked among themselves, “Is it too late? Is everything ruined? Let us discuss what we shall do. Look! See? The sun is rising. It is a new day. Let us live a new way. A new, very very old way.”
And Mother smiled.
Inner Voice 