Sitting at a river-bed that is polluted is not a pretty site. Lots of debris, rubbish, poisonous toxins and the like makes the water murky and undrinkable. We can’t see our own reflections in the river because it is sick. How can we cure this mess? When we all pull our weight and work for a healthy environment, discipline ourselves not to pollute the earth and clean up the mess, then we are living ecologically just.
“What has ecological justice to do with the mind?”, you might ask. The way we behave, think, and interact with people, all contribute to the state of our mind. When our mind is polluted with all kinds of filth like plotting evil schemes against people, wishing others harm, and acting like psychopaths, we become toxic and evil in our behaviour. Our relationships suffer. People are ill-treated and abused, disrespected and trampled on all for selfish reasons. Sometimes psychological abuse feeds into the state of our mental health. We cannot think straight. We constantly live in fear. We don’t have self-esteem. We have a low image of ourselves and life seems unbearable.
How do we clean the state of our mind? Like the filthy river that needs cleaning from pollution, our minds also need to be cleaned from the filth we feed it. Our minds are like water. When it is filthy and murky we cannot think straight and everything seems chaotic in our lives. But the moment we clean the river from debris, rubbish and poisonous toxins, the river will be healthy again and we will be able to see our own reflection in it. Likewise with our minds. When we clean our minds from the filth that floats in it, we will be able to see clearly the problems at hand and work towards a solution to solve the problem.
How do we solve the problems of life? How do we clean our minds from this filth we constantly feed it with? When we realize that we have a problem whether it is addiction or dominating others or bullying or acting like a psychopath either spiritually, verbally or emotionally, then that is half the battle won. When we realize that we are the cause of our own pain, we need to seek for help either through talking it out with a reliable friend or someone professional like a psychologist. It is better to address the problem and clear the debris in our minds so that we can see clearly, than to sit with the problem a life time and become our own worse enemy. Life will be so much bearable and we will be able to be like that clean river where we can see our own reflection and focus on our unique selves.
When our mind is like a dustbin, we harbour anger, jealousy, and hatred for others and ourselves. This is self-destructive and we cannot accept ourselves for the beautiful and unique people that we are and who God wants us to be. We are forever comparing ourselves with others and we are never good enough. We sabatage ourselves because we have poisoned our minds into thinking and believing the negative traits within us and we cannot erase this negativity.
When our minds are clear, we will be able to tackle the problem and all our lives will become joyful and happy. We will have healthy relationships that would last a life time, people will enjoy our company and we will welcome others into our world with a peaceful frame of mind. We will grow in self-acceptance and treasure ourselves as beautiful and made in the image of God and our lives would be worth living, full of hope and purpose.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom 12:2).
What does this verse from Scripture mean? It means that we need to renew our minds by God’s standards. When we seek a renewal of our minds, we seek happiness and peace from God and we are transformed to the way God wants us to be. Do not seek the ways and conform to the patterns of this world because things of this world are temporary and doesn’t bring us happiness and contentment. When we allow the Spirit of God to transform our minds, we will be able to think clearly and be able to discern God’s will for our lives. A happy and contented life, is a life of freedom and inner peace, beauty, joy and love.
The next time you look in the mirror, or into a clear river, let your reflection speak to you of deep peace, and inner calm and may your heart, mind and soul be transformed into the radiance of Christ’s inner beauty within you.
May deep peace remain with you and may the Holy Spirit transform your mind and soul according to that of Christ Jesus.
Sr Columbia Fernandez O.P
17 October 2022