There was a small story told bya rabbi about a very very old man who was seen planting young trees all around a garden and park area.    Someone asked him why he was doing it because he would never live to see them grow.   He explained that he had spent his life enjoying what people had done in their life-time for the future generations to appreciate and was showing his gratitude by doing the same.   So obviously it is not what you do now, and what you SEE producing results, that is the most important work you do in life, so much as what you leave for future generations.   But you never go out of your way to make anyone unhappy, or hurt anyone, and everything you do has a purpose which is good.  Nature will always run its course, as you say, and there is little we can do to alter the future, other than be sensible, and try and bring people to make the right decisions and - and if possible to persuade others to have the same values and we have.   As far as everyday life on a lighter level is concerned - THEN IF YOU SEE SOMEONE WITHOUT A SMILE GIVE THEM ONE OF YOURS. 

It's kind of hard to make out this red text on teal on my LCD... but I'm glad I perservered as it's an interesting read. Good and evil are heady subjects and I know when you look at the world it just seems overwhelming.  Justice, mercy and forgiveness in humanity's treatment of other people sometimes seems to vanish. There are no happy endings, because what's an ending? Even the concept of "peace" could mean "a lack of any action" where nothing ever happens and who really wants that? But you can but start with yourself, hold fast to your ideals, and believe it will see you through.

 

Not sure if extinct = bad... it's just nature running its course? After all, if the dinosaurs had evading extinction, would humans have flourished? And despite all the badness that seems to be around, there is a balance, as you say. The good stuff just does get as much press :)