Nature demonstrates its powers and humbles us

We were caught off-guard when, shortly after it started raining heavily at about 6.15 in the evening on Sunday 13 June, there was a sudden force of gale-like winds which hit my neighbourhood. I could see from my entrance door a huge mass of rain which flew past our houses at high speed along with a loud roar which I had never before experienced. The sound (something like a gushing waterfall next to your ear) lasted for about 2 minutes and the rain for about half an hour. Like everyone else, I went out to the road after the rain cleared, to check whether my rooftop was damaged. Fortunately, not. However, there was quite a bit of destruction in the neighbourhood - some roof tiles were blown off, some pillars and fences gave way, quite a number of lamps were dislodged from the lamp posts, air- con compressors were dislodged from the walls of houses and a number of trees were uprooted.

Our planet sustains us, provides us with shelter, and makes life possible; but it also humbles us with its terrifying powers.