Our little boy, now nearly two, has become a confident sprinter. And this is a skill he practices as he navigates his way towards the man-made lake well-situated in the middle of Hillsborough Park. It is a path he knows by the back of his hand, straight through the tree-lined course, past the children's playground, a slight turn to the left and then a slope towards the water hole.
"Hello, pato (duck)!"
This is how he would greet to the feathery inhabitants of the pond - ducks, geese and pigeons - as he sits by the bank, egging them to come a little bit closer. We are, as most of the other children in the community, regular visitors to this urban nature recess and the birds are well-used to our presence. Sometimes we just stop by to say hello; occasionally we would remember to bring some crumbs of stale bread for them to feast on. It's a symbiotic relationship, what we foster: each brings the other delight although admittedly, we always get the most out of the visit.
When my mother came over for a short visit, she noticed the ducks by the lake and was surprised to find them there. Back where we came from, she said, they would never last a day in the wild. But these creatures are made by God too and therefore share as legitimate a claim over our natural world. So when we teach our children the story of creation and the beauty of God's work, it would also be great to foster in them an understanding that as living beings, we are all equal. And that as the highest order in the food chain, our greatest responsibility is to protect the ecological balance of nature, that many more generations after us may enjoy it.
For Isaac, these migratory creatures are his friends. He plays chase after them, feeds them bread and squeals delight as they fly away. And they know he is their friend too, that's why they don't run away.
"Hello, pato (duck)!"
This is how he would greet to the feathery inhabitants of the pond - ducks, geese and pigeons - as he sits by the bank, egging them to come a little bit closer. We are, as most of the other children in the community, regular visitors to this urban nature recess and the birds are well-used to our presence. Sometimes we just stop by to say hello; occasionally we would remember to bring some crumbs of stale bread for them to feast on. It's a symbiotic relationship, what we foster: each brings the other delight although admittedly, we always get the most out of the visit.
When my mother came over for a short visit, she noticed the ducks by the lake and was surprised to find them there. Back where we came from, she said, they would never last a day in the wild. But these creatures are made by God too and therefore share as legitimate a claim over our natural world. So when we teach our children the story of creation and the beauty of God's work, it would also be great to foster in them an understanding that as living beings, we are all equal. And that as the highest order in the food chain, our greatest responsibility is to protect the ecological balance of nature, that many more generations after us may enjoy it.
For Isaac, these migratory creatures are his friends. He plays chase after them, feeds them bread and squeals delight as they fly away. And they know he is their friend too, that's why they don't run away.
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