It is sometimes feared that the theory of evolution shatters the meaningfulness of man's life. Nothing could be further from the truth, for it is the despise we grant nature that makes us afraid of being compared with the rest of life on earth. If we saw life in its true colors, in its immense beauty, we would be thoroughly elated to be part of such a gigantically beautiful story.
Through all the myths that we've made up we were able to elevate man, in our shared imaginative myths, to a role completely different from the rest of nature. According to the tradition established in the bible, nature is there to serve us, but only man is made "in God's image". Obviously, monkeys, dolphins and probably most other species would make up such a story for we are designed to give much more importance to the members of our own species and this is just a way to reflect this biological "glitch" into our theories of the cosmos.
However it has its drawbacks. The most obvious is the devastation of the planet, treating animals as "things" (with no feelings or rights), etc. A general lack of respect of nature. But another important aspect is the derision of ourselves. For, of course, we are indeed animals, we have basically the same instincts and needs. We feel anger, we yearn for our children, we care for one another, just like any other gregarious animal. But these things are not well accepted, because, of course, they would turn us into "animals", which is, more than a bad thing, a horrible thing: animals have no rights, they can be killed and disposed of at will. If someone calls me an "animal" then it seems more derogatory than calling me crazy. It deprives me of everything that gives me a place in our human society. Animals have no place in the world except to serve our every need.
So we try to hide these things without which we would indeed lack the animal instincts but also humanity. And we give them different names, so when a dog cares for her pup it's called instinct, but if it is my lovely wife, it is called love, and it is supposedly sublime and very worthy. And we make love it is also important and condoned by God, but animals just have sex. Animals supposedly don't laugh, and when they play it is not just for having pleasure, but because it gives some kind of evolutionary advantage. We can be heroes, animals can only be sufferers. Even the penguins, who risk their lives and starve for months to protect their eggs are not considered heroes, but just peculiar.
In this particular setting we have devalued our instincts, and everything we feel must be justified in some supernatural setting or be disregarded as a mere emotion, an illusion that might delude us into giving everything away to catch a partner or have a child.
If did not have a profound disregard for nature we would see the obvious. From millions of years there has been the kind of adventures that give meaning to our lives. There has been passion, encounters, journeys and travelers and obstacles, great adventures all along. The sum up of all these adventures is recorded throughout the ages through its consequences. And part of its consequences is "us" and the present. We are here as the present sum of all past adventures.
The theory of evolution says that nature selects those that are best fit to their environment. But this may only be true in the long run. As all of us know, the fact is that many times those who "win" are those who fight more, who "want" deeper. Obviously the biological part is very important. But the emotional part, the feelings, the adventures that give flavor to our lives, have a very important part too. These adventures have been going on for millions of years, and we are a continuation of those adventures.
Seeing emotions in this perspective gives them a much more important role in our lives. They are not just the relics of an ancient brain who struggles to release its newly found reason from their grip. They are a central part of our existence, not something to be disdained or surpassed, but integrated and perfected.
For instance, sex is not something to be disdained or surpassed. It is to be explored, made into an exquisite art, perfected to whatever extent we are capable of. When we do that we do not fall into the perversion of seeing sex as a way to humiliate someone or to make him/her suffer. We do not try to eliminate the sexual instincts. By the contrary, we try to put them into the service of something more encompassing, like love, understanding and evolution.
Giving nature its due role is essential if we want to find our nature in its true colors. Only then will we be able to accept the "animal inside of us" and accept and learn from it. Oriental martial arts have done this for some time. To "live the moment", the state of "no mind", or the state of zen, are ways in which we learn to be connected with our inner nature, which we may then experience as the source of creativity and freedom. A connection which is a strong foundation for a happy and healthy life.
Recognizing our tremendous creative potential, the ability we have to create beauty, either through works or by giving meaning to what we experience, and at the same time recognizing that potential all around us, from birds to lions and grasshoppers, bring us on the road to realize that we indeed live in a kind of Paradise. A Paradise where we have no need to be ashamed of our inner parts, where we can finally dance naked for all the world to see, that, indeed, we are no different from the rest of the world. The serpent deceived us after all with a lie. There is no science of good and bad because there is no "bad". The God that sees the good and bad is just an hallucination stemming from that lie. We are integrally good, full of passion, love and desire, full of fear because we are ignorant, full of hope because we see a world too vast and complex.
So, a reconnection with nature would provide:
Respect for the environment
Replacement of myths with science regarding our history and role in the universe
Reconnection with our inner self
Recognition of the beauty of the world we live in and ourselves as part of it.