AN EARTHQUAKE is a sobering reminder to us all that we are not in control. We think or we delude ourselves that we can take care of things and yet when an earthquake hits, see what happens. Suddenly, all things will become basic. Suddenly, all possessions will become useless. Suddenly, all that we all hold as important become baseless.
There were stories about motorists who at the time of the earthquake were at Bankerohan and Bolton bridges. The tremors were so strong that a lot of them abandoned their vehicles. Perhaps, some of those vehicles were expensive and were a source of pride and pleasure to their owners and yet when it became a matter of life and death, these people abandoned their cars to save what cannot be "unsaved." Their lives. Bahala na ang kotse, basta buhay ako. And that would be a summary of everything else. And everyone else.
You see, we hold on to things like crazy. Our homes, cars, clothes and whatever we think gives us happiness. In that mix, we should include wealth, power, reputation and whatever gives worth. And in a flash that could all disappear, all that could vanish. An earthquake can literally swallow everything up.
Some of us like to make plans. Some of us feel invincible. Some of us think we are indestructible. Vanity makes us fools. Pride brings out the worst.
King Canute was a historical figure who was widely misunderstood. The most popular story about him was that he was portrayed as some vain king who told his followers that because of his powers as a king, he could literally stop the incoming tide. The story goes that he sat down on a shore and told the tide to not come in. But it did of course. In the earlier and less known version, King Canute was someone who was astute and wise. He sat at the shore and tried to stop the tide and when it did not, he reminded his followers that there was a higher power that could do what he could not.
A good reminder to all of us. God is in control. We think because of our vanity, education, arrogance, upbringing or whatever we hold as our source of power and worth, we are in control. Nothing is more foolish. Nothing is more delusional. Nothing is more tragic or laughable. We are not in control and we have never been. You do not believe me? Next time you are in an earthquake, try stopping it.