Like many others, my friend Shaul rides in the park. He'll behold the mess as he approaches the picnic spot, where he'll sip his tea by the stone tables and benches in the shade of the leafy oak trees.
I hope the sight that meets his eyes from a distance doesn't cause him to tumble from his bicycle.
It looks to me that even the crows are keeping away from the disgusting scene where I find myself this morning. This will affect even the taste of the cheese that I will be eating. It will not be as tasty as on the days when we sit here in an atmosphere of holy, healthy cleanliness.
Looking at this mess, I have come to the conclusion that we are living amongst savages. You might ask yourself, "Why not become a savage yourself. How do we resist their influence?
We live our genteel way of life in cleanliness and care of our environment. The savages will devour us alive. We'll slip down their throats. They won't even chew as they consume us.
"Who littered the park?" I look to Heaven and ask, "Oh Lord, reveal the identity of your servants who have made this horrible mess."
Nobody admits to littering, opening a packet, drinking or eating its contents, leaving the ugly painted cardboard or plastic containers behind in the place where he enjoyed himself. That place ceases to be a place of beauty. Someone has spoilt it. They spoil it for people who come after them.
A litterbug betrays future generations; one day, a generation will be born and find no earth to live on. Being alone, he will cease to exist because only God can live alone.
The statement of the prophet Isaiah is not just a description. It's a warning.
"The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever."
Litterbugs forget that they are temporary. They have limited time to enjoy life and nature.
God's loyal followers benefit more than others from this place of natural beauty. They form the majority of inhabitants of the suburbs of Jerusalem, living on the hills surrounding the valley.
I have seen them sitting by the stone tables studying the Talmud, praying and meditating on the goodness of God.
God is silent. He doesn't interfere in the actions of human beings.
"The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth has He given to the children of men. "Psalms 115:16
Human beings are responsible for the maintenance of nature. God is responsible for what goes on in Heaven.
The crime of litterbugs is a lack of consideration for others and those who come after them.
Someone will clean up the mess, but who will preserve the morality of consideration for others? The destruction of other moral ways of living will follow. Kindness and love will go the way of consideration for others.
Those values are only eternal if we preserve them. Without them, the world would collapse into chaos.
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