We’ve experienced a number of disasters lately, both courtesy of nature and of our own doing. It’s upsetting and challenging. It’s human nature to shy away from such things. Call it survival instinct. When it comes to natural disasters, we realise that there is a force greater than ourselves. We are not in the control we thought we were. It’s disempowering. But when we scratch beneath the surface, we realise a different power we have access to. We may not be able to overcome nature, so to speak, but if we dig deep enough, we can overcome our fears and act in heroic ways. Examining accounts of heroic human endeavour, the people involved will often tell how they just reacted. They didn’t sit down and think about how they were going to handle the situation, some deeper force kicked in and they just got on with the task of being a hero; of forgetting about self and risking their life for another. We saw this with residents battling flood waters in Queensland and people returning to buildings to save others during the Christchurch earthquake.
We also bear witness to this this during the upheavals that we as humankind like to wage upon ourselves. War results in mass loss of life, destruction of homes, and decimation of land, both domesticated and wild.These battles can be looked at on a macro level, but also in the micro environment of individual turmoils. Do we create these situations to feed our own ego? Or is there are greater importance to be bestowed upon them? One could ask if there really is good or bad. Are things just as they are and it is just perception which gives them the decided label? If there is truth in the taoist law that everything must be in balance, surely there must be good in bad and bad in good. I remember reading, “The Gates Of Fire” by Steven Pressfield, an historical novel about the Battle of Thermopylae. Here the Spartans, arguably the greatest warrior nation on earth, knowingly sacrifice themselves for the sake of Greece. At first glance this seems an horrific waste of life. But one also gleams from the event the greatest that human nature can provide. The standout for me in the story is not so much the blood and guts, but the comradeship, self belief, sense of duty and being one with your fellow man that was born out in the Spartans’ final assault.
I also saw evidence of this in the story of Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish. A Palestinian doctor, whose three daughters were killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza, Dr Abuelaish has written a book called, “I Shall Not Hate”. He has been a voice of compassion and forgiveness during a time when most would resort to hatred and revenge.
Would there be a hero the stature of American Greg Mortenson if there wasn’t the misery of poverty? Greg Mortenson has dedicated his life to building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan to educate children, especially girls. He tells of his endeavors in his books, “Three Cups Of Tea” and “Stones Into Schools”.
Would we be enjoying the lifestyles we do today if war had not forced the development of technologies?
On a personal level, would we be the people we are if life didn’t throw challenges at us? Overcoming the adversities of daily life can make us stronger and muster the self belief which might elude us if not fought for.
Hardships can bring about the very best of human potential. I am not advocating war and violence. I pray that we become enlightened enough to create such positive results without such violence and harm to others. Our struggles should be our own, not ones we force upon each other. I do believe we should be grateful for our lessons though. It’s easy to be grateful when all is smooth sailing. The challenge is to be grateful when it’s not. Are we strong enough to do that? Are we capable of doing that without violence and disrespect to ourselves and others?
