Nature and humans are closely connected. Our survival depends on the balance between the environment and the way we live. Without nature, humans can not exist. The trees, rivers, animals, and all the resources around us are gifts from nature, given for our well-being. These things are meant to support life and provide food, shelter, and comfort. Sadly, many of us have failed to manage these resources properly. Instead of protecting nature, we often exploit and abuse it for our selfish desires.
Take, for example, how humans treat animals. Many animals are hunted, mistreated, or driven out of their natural homes because of our activities. Forests are cleared without proper consideration of their importance to our ecosystem. Rivers are not spared either. People build houses right on riverbanks or even fill natural waterways with sand just to create space for construction. At first, this might seem like progress, but in the long run, the results are often tragic. When heavy rains come, the water has nowhere to flow, and flooding occurs. Houses get submerged, properties are destroyed, and lives are sometimes lost.
What makes this situation even more surprising is how we react. After disasters strike, many people turn to God, asking for mercy and help. While it is good to pray, we often forget that most of these problems are caused by our own actions. It is not as if nature suddenly turned against us. Rather, we failed to plan and respect the natural order of things.
Nature is not wicked. It only responds to how we treat it. For instance, if we block a river’s natural course, the water will eventually find its way back, often through destructive floods. If we cut down trees without planting new ones, we invite soil erosion and climate problems. Even though some natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are beyond human control, the truth is that many hazards we face today are directly or indirectly caused by us.
Yesterday, while returning from work, I saw a level of flooding that I had not witnessed in many years. The sight was heartbreaking. People stood in the middle of the water, crying and calling on God for help. While I understood their pain, I could not stop thinking about how we, humans, caused this problem ourselves. Rain is a blessing, not a curse. We need rain to grow our crops and sustain life. The issue is not the rain itself but our lack of proper planning and management.
If we take better care of our environment, many of these problems can be avoided. Proper drainage systems, responsible building practices, and respect for natural spaces will make a huge difference. Instead of blaming nature or seeking divine intervention after disasters, we should act wisely and prevent them from happening in the first place. Nature gives us all we need to live, but it is up to us to use these gifts wisely and preserve them for future generations.