How Can We Do Better ?

The World, Planet Earth is, or so it seems to me, beautiful. Actually beautiful, full of beauty only describes in part, the World that we have each been born into. There is a delicate and interconnected balance upon our planet that is actually beyond beautiful. Perhaps we have other more suitable adjectives to describe what we have been given? We can try incredible, awe-inspiring, breath taking, inspirational, but do these words fully describe the gift we have each been given?

So what exactly is the problem? May I suggest us; we seem incapable of fairly sharing, respecting what we have. Why should this be and where does the problem, the blame lie? Mankind's World has effectively been built upon four pillars, Christianity, Islam, Capitalism and Communism. So are these four fundamental foundations of civilisation at fault? In truth each of these core foundations could be perfect, but are they?

Here we come to the crux of mankind's dilemma in the 21st century, us, each and every one of us. Just how important are we as individuals? I believe incredibly so and we now number eight billion. Some examples of our collective importance, will the fly that impacts a train head on slow the train? Imperceptively, microscopically, yes it will. Can the wings of the Butterfly affect wind movement in China? Again, yes. Will the ripples of the tiny pebble thrown into the lake reach the shore? Again yes. Now, if we time's by eight billion these minor events, what would be the outcome? The accumulative effect would be dramatic, derailed trains, hurricanes in China and tidal waves within that lake.

So back to the core issue, can we do better? None of the four pillars of civilisation are at fault, we are. Was communism doomed to fail? No if applied in the spirit in which it was intended, it could have been perhaps the fairest system of caring and sharing on Earth. The two major religions could and should be an inspiration to us all. The two masters upon whom these religions were founded preached self fulfilment, enlightenment and inner peace. Should that not be and aspiration worth striving for?

So where does the problem lie if not within the opposing systems and religions, within us, each and every one of us. Whilst individually our foot print is as the Amazonian Butterfly, we are many. This World that we have each been born into is so delicately perfect, so beautifully inter dependent, yet we seem unable to grasp that reality and that is our tragedy.

Why do we stampede through this Garden of Eden like frightened Elephants? Simply because we have allowed ourselves to become disconnected from the whole of creation of which we are only part.

Can we do better, well we cannot do much worse can we? Somehow we each need to find an inner contentment, a peace and font of happiness. Perhaps, just perhaps as more and more people realise that contentment comes from what we are, rather than what we have, life on Earth will improve.

If and when that happens, our beautiful World will begin to heal. Luckily for us, nature has remarkable powers of regeneration; so far, we do not push it to the point of extinction.