Natural

The word "natural" has been hijacked. Cosmetics companies, fabric producers and food manufacturers have corrupted its meaning for profit. "Natural" has little meaning any more. How sad is that?

The human species is not a race. It is a species. We are primates, just like chimpanzees and gorillas. We have evolved differently. We have become global predators and exploiters. We have become the slaughterers of other species. That, my friends, is a realistic perspective of "natural".

The human species has degraded a significant part of this special planet. We have ruined much of it. We have sown heavy metals in landfills. We have poisoned water supplies. We have destroyed nearly all the planet's natural forests. The atmosphere is showing the effects of our pillaging and overpopulation. Our days as a carefree, overpopulating species will come to an end. That, my friends, is another realistic perspective of "natural".

If you consider me a doomsday fanatic, try walking somewhere where the impact of human population is not at all evident. Yes, walk. No bicycle, no car, no skateboard. 

As a humanist, I do bemoan the irresponsible behavior of my species. I see its failure at stewardship of a magnificent blue and green planet. I regret its callousness toward all other species. Human narcissism is one of the greatest weaknesses of our frontal lobes. 

Living responsibly is difficult. Living responsibly in the sense of stewardship of the planet in any urban setting is impossible. The very existence of large urban populations is degrading to the natural environment. This is a tremendous challenge to living a peaceful and joyous life with mindfulness. Living with the pain of this awareness is a burden of conscience. 

As a secular person and a humanist, I can only take practical steps every day to live responsibly on this planet. I can keep my 12-year-old subcompact car working efficiently. I can walk as much as possible or use public transport. I can take some comfort from the fact that I have not increased the human population. I can buy products that are responsibly produced. I can avoid degrading my own personal patch of the planet by tending it carefully. 

Giving up the religious notion that some divine controller will make it all better in the end entails growing up and waking up. We speculate in modern physics that there is no happy ending. In fact, there is no ending. There is simply this reality and possible parallel realities. None of this is apparently under any monitoring or control. The moment is natural. Life is natural. Living responsibly as a human being apparently isn't natural. This takes practice.