A tree….waits. It just waits and waits. For us to cut it down. – Student @ Hekima College

I visited Hekima College in Nairobi where I lead a seminar on ecology, spirituality climate change. We discussed climate change in relation to equality, poverty, social justice, spirituality, and the inherent dignity of nature and life.

A great discussion followed.

Western Kenya should have the largest species diversity in the world. Now, many species are extinct, and the region is under threats related to climate change, rural poverty, political violence and displacement, deforestation, and over-use of pesticides.

In Swahili, Hekima means wisdom. Healthy human living conditions must be given weight.

The environment – is both a resource and a gift. No one can really own a resource. It must be shared.

To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,
One clover, and a bee,
And revery.
The revery alone will do,
If bees are few. – Emily Dickinson

Fun days of planting flowers, and digging trenches for the rains.

What does water in a river do when it meets a rock?  It goes around. It does not stop.

A group of farmers from various tribes met at the college to find peace over local water issues. The very moment we shared the departing blessings (in 5 languages) it began to rain, marking the start of the annual rainy season.

We’ve been planting a wide variety of vegetables…in the shape of the sun, rivers and lakes. The big centre circle contains companion plants, “the three sisters” – beans, corn and squash.  We worked hard, and had fun. A beautiful day working together.

Everyone worked hard today, with hopeful hearts.

Planting seeds. . . .

Very, very grateful for the water tank. The generosity of the moment, brings gratitude down the road.

I am water and I know who I am. – Class 6 Student

Access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights. – Pope Francis