Hugh rushed in and yelled, “Hey Mom! I’m kinda in a hurry, and I need to borrow the…” But his mother called him up short. “Whoa! Slow down cowboy. When you say ‘borrow’ do you mean – use for a short time and then return it in the same condition? Or do you mean – keep it and use it up?”
Hugh paused for a moment, avoiding looking his mother in the eyes, but then blurted out, “But I really need it!” Sheepishly adding, “I might not be able to bring it back in the same condition, at least not right away.”
Mother didn’t say a word but continued mixing up a teapot full of some aromatically enticing concoction. Pouring two stemming mugs full, she said, “Have a seat son and catch your breath. We need to talk.” As if under a spell, Hugh sat down and sipped the tantalizing tonic.
“You seem to have forgotten or at least misplaced a concept that indigenous peoples around the world have understood and practiced throughout the ages. We call it reciprocity - the mutual exchange of support, emotional investment, care, and love.
“Native American author Robin Wall Kimmerer says we are ‘bound in a covenant of reciprocity, a pact of mutual responsibility to sustain whose who sustain us. Plant breath for animal breath, grass and fire, predator and prey, living and dying all dance in a continuous giveaway of making and unmaking and making again the earth.’ Living by this covenant, native peoples looked to protect the welfare of those who will follow seven generations into the future. In contrast, Hugh, I’m afraid you’ve fallen into the habit of only looking at the next quarter’s spreadsheet and whether you can show a profit in the annual report.”
“Gosh, you’re right. I’m sorry Mom. I’ll do better,” Hugh Mankind promised.
“And I’m here to help,” Mother Earth winked tapping the mug he’d been drinking from. “Sip some of this ‘reciprocity recipe tea’ every day. It’s full of mutual respect, emotional support, care and love for all of the life that surrounds you.”
Hugh hugged his mother and then remembered. “Oh, I brought this for you.” It was a belated ‘Happy Earth Day’ card that read: Thank you! This precious Earth is ours to share and protect for generations to come - our only home where we’re all forever… Earthbound.
Hugh paused for a moment, avoiding looking his mother in the eyes, but then blurted out, “But I really need it!” Sheepishly adding, “I might not be able to bring it back in the same condition, at least not right away.”
Mother didn’t say a word but continued mixing up a teapot full of some aromatically enticing concoction. Pouring two stemming mugs full, she said, “Have a seat son and catch your breath. We need to talk.” As if under a spell, Hugh sat down and sipped the tantalizing tonic.
“You seem to have forgotten or at least misplaced a concept that indigenous peoples around the world have understood and practiced throughout the ages. We call it reciprocity - the mutual exchange of support, emotional investment, care, and love.
“Native American author Robin Wall Kimmerer says we are ‘bound in a covenant of reciprocity, a pact of mutual responsibility to sustain whose who sustain us. Plant breath for animal breath, grass and fire, predator and prey, living and dying all dance in a continuous giveaway of making and unmaking and making again the earth.’ Living by this covenant, native peoples looked to protect the welfare of those who will follow seven generations into the future. In contrast, Hugh, I’m afraid you’ve fallen into the habit of only looking at the next quarter’s spreadsheet and whether you can show a profit in the annual report.”
“Gosh, you’re right. I’m sorry Mom. I’ll do better,” Hugh Mankind promised.
“And I’m here to help,” Mother Earth winked tapping the mug he’d been drinking from. “Sip some of this ‘reciprocity recipe tea’ every day. It’s full of mutual respect, emotional support, care and love for all of the life that surrounds you.”
Hugh hugged his mother and then remembered. “Oh, I brought this for you.” It was a belated ‘Happy Earth Day’ card that read: Thank you! This precious Earth is ours to share and protect for generations to come - our only home where we’re all forever… Earthbound.
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