Deadly Tornadoes, Spring Cleaning for Mother Earth?

Along with my overwhelming sadness at the tragedy in Joplin, Missouri and the wave of storms that hit last night comes a question. In the wake of recent storms and devastation, one can't help wonder, "Is the earth trying to clean herself up a bit?" Mother nature does have a way of renewing herself, doesn't she? Is the earth in a cleansing pattern? Has all the havoc we wreak on our planet finally brought the earth to a breaking point?

Global warming

Certainly, the melting polar caps are caused by a depleted ozone. Is there more to it than that? Is the earth trying to send us a message? Of course, I know the earth is not an intelligent entity. Still, once those ice caps melt, life on earth will go through a transformation. Some might even call it a re-birth. I do believe the earth has a way of cleaning up our messes. It may not be a conscious act, but it's certainly a natural one.

Tornadoes, fires and floods

While all these events are horrific, aren't they also a chance for new beginnings? Don't the flood waters enrich the soil? Don't fires do the same? What about the tornado in Joplin and others like it? Can any good come from this type of destruction? Life on earth has always been about struggle and change. Some of those struggles are heart wrenching, such as the tragedy in Missouri. Lives are lost, homes are destroyed and yet, we move on to new beginnings, often with a refreshed sense of purpose.

Are all these things an act of God?

Does your God rule with an iron fist? Some people think he does. If this is the wrath of God, why would he choose to slaughter innocent people with the instant and undeniable force of a tornado? It makes no sense to me. I won't discuss my religious beliefs here. It's not the place. Let's just say the cleansing of the earth makes more sense. Or maybe, the earth isn't cleansing herself. Maybe she's just all whacked out.

Are we the cause of this?

That remains to be seen. I do know that when the earth gets out of whack, devastating things happen. Maybe this is more of a natural chain reaction than a cleansing. For instance, beetles from other countries hitchhike to Colorado in luggage. They kill large sections of trees. We have dry, dead forests. The summer sun beats down. The dead forests ignite. Forest fires wipe out the remaining trees. Is that a chain reaction, or a cleansing?

The bottom line:

Whether you call it a cleansing, a chain reaction or an act of God, these natural disasters are a wake up call. Wake up people, the earth is trying to tell us something. She can't hold on much longer. What are you going to do about it? Is living comfortably worth all this devastation? Let's seek a peaceful co-existence with mother nature, before it's too late. Let's not leave our children and grandchildren to pick up our messes. It's time for drastic measures. Mother earth is already taking them. What are we doing to see that she doesn't have to?

More from this contributor:

Talking to Tweens About Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Other Disasters

Denver Wildfires, Continued Drought Bring Concern, Caution for New Homeowners

What Will We Tell the Children

Source:

Personal experience