How can the Earth heal when we’re bent on maintaining control of our environment. From those who see the planet and its inhabitants as endless resources to exploit for personal gain to those who are out to “Save the Planet”. These delusions are ultimately obstructing natural healing and contributing to collective misery. We tend to see bits and pieces, but generally fail to see the big picture. All things, both visible and invisible, are interconnected and we are just one tiny thread in the complex tapestry of life.

As relative newcomers to this planet, we best step back and observe. Our planet is over four billion years old. Humans have been here for a mere million years or so. Early humans were kept humble by their vulnerability. More recently, we came up with tools which put us at the top of the food chain. This position of power has gotten us into a lot of trouble because we don’t have the good sense to set limits that acknowledge and respect the natural order and the needs of fellow creatures.

It’s time to critically observe our place and actions. There is no way that we can improve on Nature. We are part of, not apart from, Nature. When one cell in our body “knows better” than all other cells and starts to take over, we call that cancer. Humanity is just one cell in a vast self-sustaining body of wonderfully diverse organisms. How can we possibly control Nature without ultimately killing ourselves. Though we have proven that we have the power to wreak havoc on natural communities by destroying habitat and changing the climate, we will ultimately be losers as we are an integral part of the whole.

Nature has gone through many calamities over the history of the Earth, each time presenting something different with extinctions of some species and the emergence of new species. Sadly, we have created the latest calamity that now threatens our own existence. But life goes on with or without us.

Once we understand that we are essentially One with all there is, that there are no “good guys” and “bad guys”, that our life is totally dependent on the well-being of the whole, we can then be at peace with whatever happens.

If we understand the interconnectedness of all life, we’ll support biodiversity by sharing our spaces with other species and allowing the natural community to evolve with minimal interference. Even our food gardens can be biodiverse with a lot of species that help ensure a healthy harvest. There really is no separation between us and the rest of life.

Once we let go of the need to control, we become observers and active participants. We begin to see ourselves as an integral part of the whole. Rather than being frustrated by “work that needs to be done”, we will begin to see the folly of this kind of thinking. Nature has dealt with all kinds of disasters. We’ve presented her with the latest one, but we can be part of the solution by moving in sync with natural processes and letting go of our own distorted ideas of how things should be.

At best, our life is short. None of us can expect to see a new era of balance. Nature takes her time. It could take thousands of years to deal with the challenges of invasive plants, climate change and habitat loss. However, we can witness the positive changes that take place when we become content in our space and ensure habitats for local wildlife.

Nature has it all figured out. Let’s not let our arrogance stand in her way.