Is it a matter of belief? Tradition? Forgiveness? In the presence of something so natural, so unfiltered, so immensely potent and potentially devastating, it becomes nearly impossible not to ponder the existence of a higher, otherworldly force capable of altering the course of human lives in the blink of an eye. It's as if there's a transient respite, a momentary pause, in the face of this immense and unpredictable entity.
But what prompts the construction of shrines in places of such unparalleled beauty and power? Is it to draw closer to what existed long before our time and will endure long after we are gone? Or does it serve to humble those who need to grasp that the world extends beyond their individual existence? On a day like this, I couldn't help but view it as an opportunity for personal reflection within the context of a grander narrative, whatever that may be. And of course, to not to trip into this highly active volcano.