Nature's Rhythm
Since the beginning of time I suppose there have been hurricanes. I can assume tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, and tsunamis have also occurred. The earth has frozen over and warmed up again. Nature is a force and it has its own rhythm. Our brief time of life samples a nanosecond of world history. We look for patterns in the span of our lifetimes while nature has been going on for millions of years.
Man's arrogance sees himself as a player in this rhythm. While it may be true we can pollute the air and water, nature will continue to move on. If we foul the environment to the extent it can no longer support man then we will die off, but nature's rhythm will endure.
Hurricane Katrina displayed some of nature's power and now Rita is bearing down on Texas. We look for reasons and causes, we ask why? and how come? These are questions of our arrogance and self-centeredness. They are just hurricanes and man is in the way. Our great technology and science is exposed as puny and inadequate in the face of these two storms. Our confidence and security is rattled as our denial is pierced by the storms. The storms are not politically correct. They do not destroy bad people and leave the good people.
The world has been getting a lesson in humility, but the arrogant still prattle on about what should or should not have happened as if the hurricane would yield to man's insignificant interventions.
Our country is going to be faced with some major problems. The storm that gets the TV coverage is only the beginning. Like cancer cells, the problem has only begun. People have to survive for a few weeks differently than before. They stand in line for their daily needs. The cancer grows. Realizations set in as folks learn their life will not return to "normal" for a year or two. The cancer grows, businesses fold, tax revenues plummet, and cities face economic crisis.
Compared to nature, man is no match, but compared to adversity, man is quite capable of rising to the occasion. We have a spirit that can overcome problems and tragedy. Sometimes the best of man requires such a challenge to mobilize those energies.
We are driven by the will to survive, to protect our loved ones, to help our neighbors, and to leave the world in better shape than we found it. Not everyone shares these values. Some seize such opportunities disasters present to profit and steal. God will deal with these folks.
Cedric Flyod is the CAO of Kenner, a suburb of New Orleans. This "gentleman" was overseeing the relief supplies distribution site and was helping himself to the goods. Police raided his house Tuesday night. Cedric says he was holding the stuff to take somewhere else. Too bad we don't have public floggings anymore.
Katrina has caused havoc and Rita is about to do the same. In the aftermath, some have lost nothing, some have lost everything, even their life. Some are stepping up and helping, while others prey on the opportunities their greed makes possible. Legislation will not change any of this, because we cannot change nature. Nature has its own rhythm and the hurricanes will come and go. The nature of man is governed by personal choice and not all will choose wisely.
Until the next time
John Strain