Why is nature very cruel? Or is it?

‘Even with all our technology and the inventions that make modern life so much easier than it once was, it takes just one big natural disaster to wipe all that away and remind us that, here on Earth, we're still at the mercy of nature.’ –Neil deGrasse Tyson

Beautiful Nature

Nature is very beautiful, isn’t it? The snowy Alps, the awesome Himalayas, the great Canyon, the Amazon forest and the endless display of nature in all its glory constantly evokes a feeling of wonder at the magnificent creations of God.

But when the same nature displays its wrath by lashing mercilessly at the world, you feel nature is very cruel. The devastating earthquakes, the ruthless tornadoes which sucks everything in its way, the furious volcanoes spitting forth scalding lavas, the terrifying tsunamis which destroys everything on its way, the hurricanes which sweeps all under its pounding rage make us wonder why nature has to be so cruel.

What are some of the worst natural calamities?

• The destructive earthquake which struck West Coast of Sumatra in 2004
• Bhola cyclone which struck East Pakistan on 12\11\1970
• The Japan tsunami which occurred on 11\3\2011
• Hurricane Katrina that ripped through the gulf coast in 2005.
• Great Chilean quake may 20 1960.

These are just a few of the natural calamities you have heard of. There is no one country which can say that it has not experienced any nature’s havoc. USA is one of world’s super powers, but its power cannot stop the ruthless destruction of hurricanes and tornadoes which mercilessly lash at it year after year. The awesome power of nature spares no one.

I am not going into the geological aspect of nature as I do not know anything about it. But I often wonder how the peaceful and calm face of nature suddenly turns violent making you feel the magnitude of Mother Nature. I always felt these natural calamities are a lesson to the foolishness of man.

What is the basic attitude of man towards nature?

• He does not understand the value of it.
• He plays god with nature
• He intrudes in the path of nature
• He experiments destroys nature.
• He feels nature can be played along with.

Man cuts down trees indiscriminately and destroys the ecological structure of earth and the result is lack of rain and drought. Man made computers; the vehicles emitting toxic gases all destroy the earth. Mother earth has lost lots of its treasured gifts due the selfishness of man. Tall skyscrapers suck the water from the ground, forests are demolished and many animals have become homeless. Plastics do immense harm to nature, but nothing has been done to rectify the fault and lots of countries have never thought that they should ban plastics.

Man might invent technologies, but he cannot create nature. It is out of his boundaries and he is nothing before the awesome supremacy of nature. You know what happens when man has no fear of nature? He will play with it, trample it, destroy it and finally demolish the environmental balance and beauty of the world.

The results of misuse of nature

• Global warming
• Harmful radiation
• Environmental destruction
• Famine
• Drought

You now hear these words very often, don’t you? These are some of man made harms to nature. You want to experiment as you feel you have all the technical know how. But nature always surprises you and catches you unawares. Can you predict when the earthquake is going to strike? You can predict that hurricane is on its way to devastate, but your technical knowledge can never prevent it.

If nature does not retaliate man will go to any end to trample its natural course. Man needs warning that he has gone too far with nature. If there were no natural furies he will never understand it’s overwhelmingly power and that he is a molecule before it.

The harm done to nature by man never seems to end. Why do you see so much of climate changes through out the world? Unseasonal snow, rains, scalding heat and erratic monsoons are some the warning signals of nature. Today global warming is at its worst. There are no rains during the monsoon season and farmers have no water for irrigation. Man made problems by playing with nature!

It is indeed heart rending when you see innocent people being killed because of natural calamities. You will continue to experience such calamities till the world exists. It is a fair war by Nature on the unthinking man. Everything is fair in war, isn’t it? So nature always fair plays. It is true it leaves behind untold destruction and loss of life, but it at least makes us think that nature should be left alone to rule the world.

God created nature to give man the resources needed for his survival. But man was never satisfied and he wanted to conquer nature. Can nature be conquered? It is the super power of the world, keeping it under its control so that man remains human and does not try to play god.