"And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up upon the earth, and the top of it reached to the heaven and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD was standing beside him." Genesis 28:12, 13. The ladder is also called Jacob's ladder. Jacob was in the wild, asleep on a stone which he used as a pillow when he had the dream. When his ego was away, while he was with nature, the ladder appeared. What is this ladder? My interpretation..
Giovanni Francesco Bernardone, also known as St Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of Ecology. He saw every creature as sacred. The world in which he lived or Nature was not something evil to be rejected but a sacred ladder by which he could ascend to his Creator. He saw the sacredness of life even in an ant or a bug. He saw God in Nature. Nature reflected God. His sacred ladder- his compassion for all things in Nature, in the world- kept him in communication with angels, messengers of God, who brought him intuitive wisdom and joy, a profound bliss which is only possible when one is at one and harmony with God, with Mother Nature, as reflected in his prayer-
Canticle of All Creatures
Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.
Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.
Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You my Lord through our Sister, Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon
for love of You and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
By You Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.
The environment deserves our reverence and compassion as it is part of us. It is alive. Mother Nature has been around longer than us. She sustains us. She is sacred. As we continue to continuously cut down forests, pollute the rivers and seas, pollute the air that we breathe with technology never known before in the history of the world, we are recklessly efficient in causing many species to go extinct. We too may become extinct soon. We are descending spiritually. There will be no peace for the wicked. In my mind, wilful actions or omissions on our part in inflicting harm to Nature is mortal sin - we cause unimaginable torture, pain and suffering to our innocent and helpless fellow brothers and sisters in the forms of fishes, insects, birds, wolfs etc. There is no end to our selfishness and greed in depleting our natural resources. No wonder why God seems so distant from us No wonder why we have so much misery in the world and the many natural disasters that increases by the day. We are heading towards the pit of darkness and gloom because have ignored the sacred ladder. See also the website of:-
Global Disaster Watch - Natural Disasters
