In today’s information age lesser and lesser time is being spent in and with nature, leading to conditions and ailments that did not exist a few decades ago. These conditions and ailments have been described by Richard Louv as Nature Deficit Disorders or NDDs in his book entitled, “The Nature Principle”.
When deliberate effort is made to look to nature, it’s beauty and wisdom in the simple and the ordinary becomes clearly evident. Nature gives messages and lessons that are most times taken for granted. It also has some inherent healing properties which help to improve one’s health, happiness and overall well being.
What if humanity was like the sun, which rises early, and does not get late to set? All humanity would get out of bed early and would not go to bed late. Is that not a great lesson from nature? What if it was like the moon and the stars, which shine and bring beauty in the darkness, and yet submit to the greater light? They would understand that darkness is necessary to appreciate the light; they would refuse to succumb to the world’s darkness but strive to inspire others with their rays of light.
What if humanity was like the birds of the air, which eat, sing, drink, and fly? If they dared to take their feet off the ground, they would release their fears, spread their wings and soar with the limitless new-found freedom and potential available to them. What if it was like the ants and the bees, which work together to benefit all those in their community? They would know that each of them have a role that is best performed by them; and that each of their parts is necessary for a functioning family, community, nation and world.
What if humanity was like the mountains, which stand firm, poised and majestic? They would also remain strong regardless of the avalanches, rain storms and other external situations that life may bring. What if it was like the trees, which stand deeply rooted in the ground, with their vulnerability out in the open and branches spread wide, surrendering to the universe even as seasons change? They would learn acceptance and non-resistance; just like a green leaf does not resist turning red when autumn approaches, and trees do not resist leaves falling when winter arrives. They would learn to tell their creator, “Do what you will with me, I trust it is for my highest good”.
What if humanity was like the river, which is calm at first, then the currents become faster, but it always moves forward towards the vast ocean? They would throw their paddles in the water and let their boat take course in the natural direction of the current, knowing very well the dangers of dispelling their energy, creativity and time working against the flow of the universe. The sail will be slow at first as they set towards life’s journey; then, as their dreams get bigger, they will find themselves in a river that has faster currents and more opportunities; and eventually, for their dreams to be realized, they must end up in the vast ocean, where they won’t always have the protection of the river banks as their safety net. To achieve their dreams they have to lose sight of the land and sail into open waters, where there are unlimited possibilities for their dreams to manifest.
What if humanity was like the butterfly, whose entire life cycle metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly is short but beautiful? They would appreciate, enjoy and celebrate each phase of life from childhood until when they are senile. What if it was like the oceans, which can’t exist without each particle of water? They would acknowledge that each human being is one small part that plays their role in humanity; and what if humanity was like the weather? They would appreciate that nothing is certain in life; that no one can control and prepare for everything.
When humanity ultimately agrees to learn from nature, pets will teach them how to be faithful and to give full, unconditional, uninhibited, and unreserved love, affection and attention without expectations; flowers will teach them how to share their beauty and fragrance, without discrimination, with all friends, strangers and enemies; fruits will teach them how to be beautiful on the outside, and healthy on the inside; days will teach them how to arrive and leave without boasting; oasis will teach them how to provide good and transparent water to the thirsty; and, the firefly will teach them that, even when they perceive themselves as small, they can cast their own light.
When humanity concedes, they will know, like Albert Einstein, that they are part of the whole universe, a part limited in time and space. They will not delude their consciences by experiencing themselves, their thoughts and their feelings as separated from the rest and thereby restricting themselves to their personal desires and to affection for just a few persons nearest to them. They will free themselves and widen their circle of compassion to embrace the whole of nature, in its beauty and glory.
Humanity will, like Max Ehrmann in ‘Desiderata’, consider themselves as “Children of the universe, just like the trees, the skies, the valleys, the mountains and the stars, which also have a right to be here”.