History would tell us that natural disasters are not new to our country. Year after year, many lives and possessions are being either ruined or sternly affected by successive natural disasters such as earthquake, landslide, hail storm, typhoon, volcanic eruption, and the like - not noting yet their strength, gustiness, or magnitude . When such disasters come, it is not an issue whether you are rich or poor, young or old, man or woman in order to get spared from its force. Nobody draws exempted from its effect.
Our natural pursuit for “order” is innate in us and any chaos is unacceptable, be it in the environment or in other field. This explains why when natural disasters hit us, the situation is found uneasy and people commonly ask - if God loves his creatures, why does He allow natural disasters to hit us? It comes so easy for the people to blame God for the harsh fate of many houses being drowned in mud and flood during typhoons, or the lands covered by lava during volcanic eruptions, or the agricultural areas bunged by loam on the hillside during landslides, and the like adverse effects of calamities. However, people seldom ask themselves of their contribution on such throbbing tragedies brought about by their irresponsible stewardship over the earth. Yes, environmental phenomena will come and we do not have any control over it. But, human beings can lessen its effect.
It is quite significant here to go back to God’s command to human beings in Gen 1:28: “Fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over all the living things.” This command speaks of responsibility over the earth which God placed in the hands of human beings. Thus, it carries out the duty to take care of the earth, to make it fruitful and NOT TO ABUSE the environment. Sadly, human beings do the latter, most often than not. When we look around us, we will notice the grave abuses of human beings in the environment. The forest degradation, quarrying and mismanaged wastes speak of it.
However, while many languish because of ruthless effects of the disasters, still many exult for being spared from it. The latter, however, must express their joy not just by mere saying: “Thank you, Lord for sparing us from the calamity.” More so, they must add: “Since you have been kind by sparing us, teach me to be kind too to my brethren who were less fortunate. Allow me to help them, Lord.” Hence, every time when natural calamities take place is an opportune time to lend hands and to share what we preserve with those who were unfortunate enough for not being able to save anything from the disaster. After all, it still pays to re-echo the well-known Filipino song which says: “Walang sinuman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang. Walang sinuman ang namamatay para sa sarili lamang. Tayong lahat ay may pananagutan sa isa’t isa.” (Nobody lives for himself alone. Nobody perishes for himself alone. All of us are accountable for each other.) If we face disasters and our fellows seem not to care, then that would be the worst disaster that has come our way.
Natural phenomena, therefore, are not purely disastrous. It should not be seen as purely God’s fury that leads human beings to doom due to wickedness. These could also be seen otherwise - as God’s way of uniting the apparently divided Filipino people. Of course, the experience of loss of lives and hardly-earned possessions is painful. But in the long run, we will realize that there is a grace behind loss and a reason why God allows natural disasters: first is the lesson of valuing the environment; the second is the message that despite the development of science and technology, we still do not have full control over everything and thus, we still need God; and the third is to let us relive the spirit that binds us as Filipinos… bayanihan!(helping others in dire need)
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