Don’t Try and Fool Mother Nature

Somehow, talking about Hurricane Dorian on September 11^th is ironic but quite appropriate.  Both events were devastating to the world, or large parts of it in any case.  Lorna and I are getting back to normal life here at our cottage on P.E.I.  We got off rather lightly with no damage to our cottage and other buildings.  We had a few trees and branches down but fortunately nothing serious – except for Lorna’s gardens – especially the corn which Lorna had high hopes for this year.  We were without power for almost exactly 48 hours with the power back on at 6:30 Monday night to our great relief. 

Unfortunately, many people here on P.E.I. did not get off so lightly.  Some people are still without power as I write this and may not be fully restored until the end of the week.  There are many trees down and crops have been adversely affected and life in general disrupted.  A couple of building fires were a result of the hurricane with one caused by a stove which was on when the power went out and when, it was restored, there was no one home and the stove came on automatically causing the fire from a pot on the stove. 

However, the overall devastation caused by Dorian was much more significant and far reaching than anything experienced on P.E.I.  The devastation in the Bahamas was beyond measure and will be felt for many years.  Any assistance that people feel able to give will be undoubtedly greatly appreciated by the Bahamians. 

We can only sit and perhaps cower in awe and wonder at the power of nature when it is unleashed.  I was reminded of that line in the old commercial, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.”  As fortunate as I was being relatively unscathed by Dorian, there was nothing that I did or could have done about that situation.  We are all basically completely at the mercy of the unimaginable forces of nature.  I could have just as easily felt the full power of Dorian as not.  AS much as I hesitate at times to admit, so much of my life has been completely beyond any direct action of mine.  I did not choose to be born as a male child in a white middle-class family in Canada as part of the baby boom with all that was handed to me and all the privileges without any action on my part.  So many other have been less fortunate than I have been and continue to be.

Dorian has been one of the increasing reminders of the hubris of people to believe that we can disregard nature or, if you will, God’s creation and not suffer the consequences.  Despite all the advances in science and technology we are still at the mercy of nature when its full force is unleased on us.  Exploding atomic bombs - the greatest power available to humankind is a mere speck compared to the power of a force five hurricane despite what President Donald Trump fantasizes.  It is doubtful that any action we could possibly take to mitigate the effects of global warming will be able to repair the damage we have done.  However, we can mitigate the extent of that damage and its effects.  But I have serious doubts that we will make any truly serious action until it is far too late. 

We have been called throughout our history to repent our sinful ways.  That is as true today as any other time in our history.  Humankind has seen our foolish ways before - perhaps we will again.  I hope and pray that we will.

Blessings on your journey.