Michael Collins - Nature

Our nature is to be suspicious of everything

... and everyone. Especially 'Nature' itself.

For Nature may (and does) turn against us

on the slightest provocation. And we do provoke Nature.

We push Nature to 'her' limits. And there will be

a reaction... A response. A 'fight-back'. And I know

where my money is.

So... Why suspect Nature?

Why treat Nature with such suspicion?

Suspect Nature of what? Plotting against us?

Possibly... Why the suspicion? Similar question

with the one presumption: that Nature is somehow

'alive'. A thinking, feeling, being ... Aware of the

world around it... Well, actually it IS the world...

So there...

We are consumed by fear and guilt, of course.

We generally are suspect of those whom we have wronged

in some way. There is a suspicion that they may

invoke the clause: 'righteous indignation', and attempt

retribution.

Would Nature do this? Only if Nature was a thinking, feeling,

aware, sentient being. With insight... And a long memory.

Thankfully, Nature is only a bunch of trees, water, sand and

a bit of dirt here and there... Not much going on, really.

What about the propensity of our nature to be suspect

of other human beings? Suspicious, at times, of hidden

agendas. And the like. Same story.

I blame religion. Mostly. Say 80%. Though I am struggling to

ascertain what constitutes the other 20%. (Atheists have their

own problems, of course)

I say this: what is God? Who is God? Where is God?

And suddenly you find yourself talking to yourself...

Such existential angst would make up at least another 10%.

Let's face it, if you can't trust yourself... Who can you trust?

The last 10%? Up for grabs.