Humans' Role in Nature's Drama...

I recently watched a television show that focused on our solar system.

I have always had (at least since an early age) an interest in astronomy...especially planetary astronomy. 

This broadcast had amazing photography of all of the planets...and I still look at the pictures and feel the excitement and amazement that I felt the first time I saw Jupiter, its "red spot" and its moons and the "rings of Saturn."

Enough of my reminiscing!

This show was more than pictures...it discussed many different theories related to the birth of our solar system, its history and anticipated "life span." 

One portion of the show caught my attention in particular.  It was about the birth of the planet.  One of the latest theories contends that the planets "accreted."  That means that over a period of time, they started out as atoms, that accumulated into dust, that accumulated into rocks, that accumulated into asteroid-sized objects, that finally accumulated into planet-sized objects.

That seemed to make sense...until I thought about nature...

Nature doesn't accrete!  It's general tendency is to erode!

Nature seeks its lowest level...

In nature...big things become smaller...not the other way around!

If accretion was true...the asteroid belt would be turning into a planet...

I am seeing this!  Are you?

Ashes to Ashes...Dust to Dust!

Big Deal!  Right?

I really do not care how the earth came into being...

But this theory got me thinking (I don't know how or why) about the role and relation that Human Beings have in nature!

Nature is about cycles of building that lead to decomposition...

Physically humans are part of that cycle...and as hard as we try...we can not break free from it!

Think about it...

The Egyptians sought eternal existence...through mummification...

Ponce de Leon - Tried in vain to find the "Fountain of Eternal Youth"

A vast majority of the world's population is concerned with spiritual "eternal life."

Many of our info-mercials sell exercise and health programs, make-up, plastic surgery, and so on...in an attempt to stop the inevitable attacks of nature...

Despite our gallant efforts...we all succumb to nature and return to dust!

That is as individuals...but what about us as a species?

So where do "we" actually stand?

It is interesting...but it wasn't deep introspection of thought that lead me to this...but the info-mercials that brought on this epiphany!

We (human beings) are here to stand against nature!

It is deeply instilled in us to create things that grow...things that last!

It has been and remains an important part of every culture...

Without belaboring the point...humans are here to stand against erosion...and decomposition...

It is in our nature to..."Rage...Rage...against the night...and not go gently into that good night..."

We are here in direct conflict with nature!

Should we fight a battle that we'll ultimately lose?

Regardless of your religious position...from scientific to fanatic...our global and individual role/position is unique!

To put it in the most generic form...(that can be read more universally)...Nature put man on this earth as (at minimum) an experiment...or to play a leadership and control role...that prior to his/her dawn did not exist.

The role?

To take command and control of the natural order of things!

Natural order?

To go from something...flourish...and then subside into oblivion!

To break to cycles...and leave ever improving legacies!

Things upon which future generations can built to higher and better levels of existence...

Look at our history...we have gone from caves to skyscrapers!

From walking upright...to space travel...

and on and on!

To make a positive difference in the world...or at least the part that matters...the part that each was given responsibility for...

Is this a battle that we (as a species) will lose?

I do not believe so...

What to do?  WHAT TO DO?

To figure out our role in this cosmic drama...let's look at Nature...the world around us...

It may be easier to figure out our purpose by seeing what we are standing against and defining our role from the "negative of a negative" aspect!

Nature lacks morals or ethics...

It is what it is!

It does not reward good...or punish bad!

It destroys huge parts of its inhabitants without even a second thought...

It allows extinctions

Need I go on?

Nature is cruel (by our standards)...Nature doesn't see it that way...because it has no standards...

Nature lacks caring (although we may see it...it is fleeting)

Nature ultimately decomposes EVERYTHING into the most basic of elements leaving absolutely no trace of its past...IT COULD CARE LESS!

Clarity of Purpose

It is much easier for me to see what we should be doing...now that I see what we are here "not to do!"

The opposite of love is not hate...it is indifference!

Nature is indifferent...we as human being have the ability to exercise our calling and stand against indifference by caring and love!

This above all things is an important characteristic of human-ness!  Yet many do not exercise this obligation!

Why not hate?

Next...Nature decomposes...it destroys what it has built...

Hate is an emotion that leads to destructive behaviors...

Any behavior that destroys or erodes is natural...whether driven by a negative emotion or simply through indifference!

Love and caring in the proper perspective builds...and is strictly a human characteristic!

I could belabor the point...but will refrain from doing so...

As humans...we are designed to build and keep building...

To leave foundations upon which future generations can springboard to even higher levels...

Yet we fall prey to nature and simply act "naturally"

Shame on us!

This is not only about lasting monuments and ethical governments...

This is also about a mean and nasty word...a bullying behavior...

Any behavior that is less than uplifting...is degrading and eroding...

"Non-building" behaviors are admissions of that individual being less (lower) than human...

Harsh but true!

We through apathy and avoidance...allow these individuals to remain an accepted and often lauded part of our human society...when we should be re-mediating them...

They are not only "lower classed" they are shirking their responsibility as humans!

They need to see that they are hurting our species (society) on a whole...

It is not that hard to be nice...

It is not that hard to act human...

To build...rather than tear down...

To switch from "what's in it for me?" to "how can I help you?"

It would be totally delightful to walk around a shopping mall and overhear happy conversations rather than the cutting and obnoxious talk that I hear!

Think of a world filled with "please" and heartfelt "thank you's" or "excuse me"...or "after you!"

Just common (actually uncommon) courtesies!

How hard is it to simply be what we are called to be?

Enough Said!

Pura Vida!