Mother Nature deserves great respect

Is not Mother Nature wonderful? We live in a world of wonders – a place of astonishing beauty and complexity. We have vast oceans, giant mountains, majestic rivers and breathtaking landscapes.
But Earth does not exist in magnificent isolation. We are part of a much wider ecosystem. The law of nature that shaped our Earth also shaped the worlds beyond our home planets. It is fascinating to study the orbit of the planets around the Sun – for eternity (maybe not!). Imagine a slight tilt of the Earth creates our seasons.
While we marvel at the creation of the universe, there is a dark side as well – devastation by earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes etc – all causing major havoc in all parts of our world. Many volcanic mountains exist all over the world – some are extinct, some slowly erupting over years till one fateful day, they erupt with anger and wrath. Mother Nature is indeed most magnificent on one hand and extremely harsh and ferocious on the other.
Our country is being devastated by a severe, prolonged drought which is all pervading. Most folk are affected. And who is responsible for all this? Mother Nature of course! Do we have any real control? Not exactly. Rain and thunderstorms will occur at their own pace – sometimes giving great relief and at other times being ferocious and destructive; destroying homes, shelters, informal settlements, pylons etc. We have no control of this harsh nature of Mother Nature. The ferocity, the sheer magnificence, the destruction, the terrible loss of life and livelihood and the aftermath of these tragedies boggles the mind and makes one extremely fearful.
In the midst of all this wonder, man (regarded as the most intellectual of all living organisms – sometimes debatable!) happily causes his own destruction in many, many ways. Our eco-system is systematically being eroded all in the name of progress – bigger businesses, better transport systems, more money and more power – but alas, only for a select few. As we notice in our beautiful country, the rich get richer the poor get poorer. Add to this is man’s greed, egoism, arrogance, self-indulgence, corruption, a complete lack of ethics, morality, humility, compassion, humaneness (the list is endless). Where does it all end? Will it ever end? Take a moment and ponder at the wonders of our divine creator – we pale into insignificance at the power that emanates from Mother Nature. One needs to have great respect for Mother Nature – whether it manifests as abundant, beautiful and gentle or in all its “majestic” awe-inspiring cruelty.
We really have no choice in all these matters. It is truly divine intervention. Drought was probably pre-ordained by Mother Nature. All we can do is try as much as possible to help those in dire need. That kind of service will be a blessing from above. We need to humble ourselves as minuscule particles of inconsequence. We need to lose the pride and superiority but maintain honesty and integrity in all we do; major or minor. Maybe then there will be hope for this wonderful world of ours before it sinks into an abyss of inequity. Hope springs eternal! Om Shanti – peace to all!
DR THIRU MOODLEY
Ballito