We live in extremely precarious times. We need to go beyond mere depression about things; we need to act and not merely “go along indifferently.” The planet is getting more and more overcrowded with people (and people are still cranking out more and more babies); there is less and less space (especially for animals and plants). Extinctions in nature are occurring at an unprecedented rate (with over a million species going extinct lately). There is much less healthy agricultural land (as pollution is creeping in everywhere imaginable). Carbon emissions and plastics are ruining the globe, while the Amazon and Western U.S. forests (and other world forests) burn rampantly, while some flat-earth political groups deny global warming and heavily contribute to the deterioration of the environment. There is less viable fresh water. Guns and weapons of mass destruction are on the rise; unfortunately, with many not realizing it, germ warfare is a very real possibility. Automated robots will soon be replacing millions of people in the workplace. The over-use of unnatural, made-made food products and the over-usage of synthetic medicines is making the human population more and more unnaturally sick and corrupt, with immune function diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, cancer, depression, mental problems, and such things as diabetes becoming all too common, with increasing frequencies of occurrence. We are rapidly losing what little freedom we had; political figures are becoming more and more dictatorial and propaganda news channels (much like what Nazi movies did in the past) are making crass people believe very crazy/hateful things.
What is one to do regarding all of this obvious insecurity? Too many of us are looking at the problems fragmentarily. The problems are not isolated; one problem is related to another problem. There is a bigger picture that is more holistic, more comprehensive, insightful, and caring. We must look beyond the $-oriented opportunistic greed that is contagiously expanding as if it (i.e., such greed) is an accepted disease (that is OK). A holistic, truly compassionate, non-indifferent mind of wisdom and insight would not be a huge contributing factor (to the above terrible situations) and would even seriously try to help change things. A mind that operates in the old, traditional patterns, staying fragmentary, staying comfortable and barbaric (full of bias, indifference, and callousness) would not significantly help with the earth’s present very serious problems and with the problems that human beings face; such an indifferent/crass mind would merely continue to make the earth a living hell. We can be stable and holistic or we can be fragmented and uncaring. We can, (in all of this danger, fragmentation, and disorder), be order, wholeness, compassion, and largely be freedom from fear.
No matter how terrible or disorderly things may seem on the outside, wisdom would primarily be stability and joyous harmony on the inside, in consciousness; it’s wisdom’s responsibility. It’s wisdom’s responsibility not to be sad in a sad world; it’s wisdom’s responsibility not to be nuts in a nutty world. Empathy would still exist; we wouldn’t look away from the suffering of those (supposedly) at a distance, and we would act to help; it’s wisdom’s responsibily.
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
Here’s some real wisdom: “It’s wisdom’s responsibility not to be sad in a sad world; it’s wisdom’s responsibility not to be nuts in a nutty world.” There are people whose sole mission in life is to keep us fearful (and thus, controllable) and feeling as though the world’s gone crazy. I refuse to buy in. I’ve watched people almost literally disintegrating because of their immersion in the 24/7 news cycle and social media. It’s not healthy, and its purpose is profit.
Yes, we can’t let things affect us negatively (mentally). I see a lot of the other side of the spectrum too — way too much of it actually — with people partying, having oodles of babies, driving (massive polluting vehicles), not recycling, and acting like everything is rosy perfect, which it isn’t. There has to be a balance. We are — globally — in a situation wherein if we do not wake up soon, it will definitely be catastrophic for the planet (for all life forms); that is what the scientists are (rightfully) pointing out. Hopefully, more of us will act intelligently, responsibly, with compassion and insight. 🙂
Nice picture of ants at work. That old song popped into my head, “The ants go marching one by one, Hurrah, hurrah…”
Thank you, Siobhan. Yes, i remember that song.
They sure know how too cooperate and get things done (with a lot of diligence and order). 🙂
Yes, they do.
Tom, I just heard the news before reading your post and 25 Common Loons were found dead, washed up on the shoreline near Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan. The officials believe the loons were likely killed by Type E botulism and washed ashore. The ants in your photo, are not industrious in their labor this time, but they are caring for their young – you always say that long after we are gone, the ants will remain.
Terrible news about the Loons. It’s the human-loons that are letting natural waters and water for human consumption (i.e., Flint, Michigan, et al) go rotten intentionally.
If caring for your young isn’t being industrious, i don’t know what is. Ask any decent, stay-at-home mother. Yes, they’ll be here long after we are gone. Tomorrow, Linda, i will post a very amazing photo of an ant (very close-up)! 🙂
Love your ant photograph and thoughts on the times we’re living in. Since I only have control over what I myself do, I just do my best every day in hopes of making a difference. But unfortunately too many humans are indifferent both environmentally and politically!
Yes, many are indifferent environmentally and politically; it is very sad really. They just fit in with the status quo and really don’t care.
Sabine, keep doing what you are doing. 🙂 Intelligence/compassion operates regardless as to whether the rest (i.e., the masses) are intelligent or not.
There are days when I feel like sticking my head in the sand, but than I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror. Hopefully we are making a difference! 🙂
The nature of being human is to deal with a crisis effectively, and to do so we must be represented by people who can demonstrate that the breakdown of the current industrial illusion is for them a condition for choosing an active mode of communication.
Many people tend to be lazy and indifferent and lately it is like a lot of them don’t even mind that votes are being suppressed and minds are being influenced by outside governments and inside (old-school) corruption. Things need to change.
We cannot play the victim, we must be wise in turning this around. I say Tom, what a great piece.