Reflection Point I
Our True Nature
Do we know where we are going?…the future seems to ask this of us.
Every step we take is a disconnect and farther away from Nature. So then, we have to ask ourselves some questions – beginning with what is our path?…and what is our true nature? – that which guides us on our journey.
The Truth We Mortals Need,
Us Blest To make And Keep,
The All-Wise Slightly Covered Over,
But Did Not Bury Deep.
— Christian Gellert’s poem *18th century
How did Nature begin? Where does She end? In Her timeless story, where do we fit in?
For centuries, the best of mankind, people from all fields of professions, have directed their energies and focus on the Natural Phenomena. To understanding Nature, to revealing her secrets, to harnessing her infinite power. From the Industrial Revolution and up until now, we are also witnessing steady increases in the world’s population, in capitalism, the wealth of Nations and in consumerism.
Furthermore, world over, societal structures and our cultural norms have changed in short spans of a couple of generations, to accommodate these surpluses.
But how are we relating to our natural world? What role does nature play in each of our lives? How big is it? More than ever before, our acceptance of modern living demands that we displace our identities farther away from being a part of Nature.
We are increasingly living isolated from Nature.
But our societies owe our very evolution to the many gifts from Nature. Fast and crazy technological evolution today begets the question of how we are evolving (if at all) further as a species?
Standing on the cusp of an evolutionary viewpoint, we must choose what state of Nature we offer our future generations. It becomes important to understand where our true intentions come from, intentions to understand ourselves and our Nature.
And what does that mean? In a real, daily, living sense?
When faced with earthquakes, draughts, famines, floods, tsunami, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, and the disappearance of endangered species even, we promptly label it as a Natural Phenomenon or a Natural Calamity.
However, when we ourselves are faced with a life changing situation: loss of our loved ones, bankruptcy, physical abuse, long term health conditions, loss of job, loss of healthcare privileges, homelessness, divorce, separation etc. we rarely stop to think that these are a part of a Natural Phenomenon. A part of Our Nature. After all, human nature has not changed in the last 500 years. Everything Shakespeare wrote about men back then, still applies to all our natures.
Our lives are a product of our nature and in that – it is a natural calamity.
Unfortunately, we do not identify our lives with nature in these instances. We instead isolate ourselves. Feel helpless and seek comfort in the similar experiences of fellow beings. We seek comfort and understanding in numbers…
But what about our comfort from nature? Nature endures and persists in spite of all the calamities. How often are we looking to Nature as a kindred spirit in our journey? How often do we look to our surroundings and feel one with or identify with Nature in our times of anguish? How often do we observe Nature in order to find a cure for our maladies? What examples there motivate us? Or touch us deep enough to crystallize a change in our sadness or sickness? How can we harness the compassion in Nature and not mindlessly reflect it back to her, but instead reflect it back at our world?
But then, How often are we even observing Nature at all?
Choosing to find answers to these questions ought to bring us closer to ourselves. Clearer views to our true Natures…
“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”
Aye? …
Anybody…?