End of Nature

Twenty some years ago there was a book by Bill McKibben called The End of Nature. It caused quite a stir at the time and then was pretty much forgotten. I remember reading a review, never read the whole book. His basic point, still a very cogent idea, is that we have tinkered with nature so much that we have become responsible for whatever occurs. Our sense of the earth and forces of nature that has dominated human thinking since the dawn of consciousness, that Nature is a powerful force, beyond our control-- gods, spirits, frost-giants, whatever--has changed. Whenever it's hot we say "global warming!" and when ever it's cold we say "well, I guess we don't have to worry yet. . ." but the point is we now worry. We feel the guilt. We have become responsible for the weather, indeed for the state of the entire earth. That's a heavy burden to bear. So waking up these beautiful fall mornings in South Montana is restorative. It is possible for a part of the day, until the existential doubt and guilt comes wafting over the Rockies with the hot afternoon wind, to feel renewed, light, a small part of nature, just blessed with a sunny morning full of birds and yellow leaves. That's all we got.